Our Mission

The Denise House exists to provide a safe, supportive and inclusive environment to abused women and their children in Durham Region and strives to provide integrated, anti-racist, anti-oppression services to empower the diversity of all women to choose their own future. The Denise House further exists to educate the public at large about issues resulting from the abuse, oppression and discrimination of women and their children.

Our Vision

Women and their children overcoming oppression and abuse to choose their own future.

 Our Values

Safety – We believe that women and children fleeing domestic abuse have the right to a safe, compassionate, inclusive and respectful environment where they can begin their journey towards healing and wholeness.

Empowerment – We believe in and support the right of every woman served by The Denise House to choose her path. We advocate with and for those we serve, by providing culturally-competent counseling and support services in a non-judgmental environment while respecting the dignity and personal integrity of our clients, volunteers, staff, and other stakeholders.

Community – We believe in and support a nourishing healthy community working collectively and cooperatively to address issues of violence, poverty, oppression and abuse. We believe that key components to creating such a community involve a range of public education and awareness and activities, and developing and fostering collaborative partnerships with organizations and individuals.

Accountability – The Denise House is accountable to the women and children it serves, its staff and volunteers, its partners and funders, and to the community in which it provides services. This accountability includes, but is not limited to, preservation of client confidentiality; transparence of financial and governance activity; provision of a safe living and working environment for its clients, volunteers, and staff; and The Denise House’s response to current and emerging community needs.