Our Mission

The mission of Bolton Refuge House, Inc., is to offer safety, support, education and other services, skills or alternatives that will empower victims and enhance the safety and well-being of domestic violence and/or sexual assault survivors by specifically addressing their needs on an individual and community basis.

About Us

In Eau Claire, Wisconsin in the mid 1970’s a group of concerned community women developed the idea of a Women’s Community Center.  In 1976, before the Women’s Community Center opened, they received a call from the police department asking them to provide shelter for a woman and her children fleeing a domestic violence situation.  The group opened the Refuge House in response to that call, and the Refuge House (incorporated in 1977) has been providing services to victims of domestic and/or sexual violence and abuse ever since, as the first domestic abuse shelter in the state of Wisconsin. In the late 1970’s the Refuge House moved into a church parsonage in Eau Claire.  On October 6,1982 Eau Claire Police Officer Robert Bolton was killed when responding to a call for help from the Refuge House.  Shortly after that the shelter was moved to a larger property in Eau Claire and the name of the organization was changed to Bolton Refuge House in his honor.

Bolton Refuge House has two satellite offices.  The Bolton Refuge Jackson County Outreach Office (BRJCO) began operation in 1991.  The Bolton Refuge Buffalo County Outreach Office (BRBCO) began operation in 2004.

The Bolton Refuge Children's Center, which opened in 2002, is licensed as a special needs daycare and can serve up to 25 children at a time.

The Bolton Refuge House Transitional Living Program (TLP) has been steadily growing to meet the needs of victims of domestic and/or sexual violence and abuse who become homeless as a result of leaving the abusive situation they were in.  There are three transitional living units in Eau Claire.  Ellie Rose House was established in 1990 with two apartments.  In 1997 Metzgar House was completed, with four apartments.  Founders House was built in 2003 with two apartments.  Two additional apartments were added on to Founders House in 2005.  In Jackson County, Harbor House in Black River Falls opened in 2005 with one apartment and an office for the TLP Case Manager.  In 2006 Beacon House was built in Merrillan with two apartments and an office for the Case Manager.  The office formerly in Harbor House was converted to a TLP efficiency unit.  Beacon House II is currently under construction around the corner from Beacon House I and will provide two more apartments opening in the summer of 2007.  Altogether Bolton Refuge House will be operating sixteen transitional living apartments by the end of 2007, providing transitional living space for up to 70 persons.

With the combination of emergency shelter, a wide array of advocacy and support services, day-care services and transitional housing, Bolton Refuge House is a leader in the state of Wisconsin for providing quality, safe, and empowering services and support to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and their families.