Aaniin (Greetings)

Friends and Relatives of

Women’s Advocates, 

Since our founding in 1974, Women’s Advocates has made significant strides in removing barriers for victim-survivors seeking safety from abuse. We are excited to share two important initiatives that will help us further our mission and create a lasting impact in the lives of victim-survivors and their children. 

By becoming a pet foster, you can provide care for a victim-survivor’s pet while they find safety in our shelter. This small act of kindness can make an enormous difference in their lives. Additionally, for those who own rental properties, we invite you to join our Landlord Circle. By joining our Landlord Circle, you agree to inform our Housing Stability program about any vacancies in units that you own. Help a victim-survivor and their family find housing and receive guaranteed rent for up to one year. Your support enables us to walk alongside victim-survivors on their path to healing. Together, we can work to create a safer community free from abuse in the Twin Cities and beyond.

Respectfully and Zhawenim (unconditional love),

Holly Henning

Executive Director

Make a difference in life of a

victim-survivor by becoming a pet foster!

This spring, Women’s Advocates launched the Foster Pet Program, providing a lifeline for those facing the heart-wrenching choice between their own safety and the well-being of their furry family members. Through collaboration with local animal rescue organizations, we are now able to ensure dedicated care and attention for victim-survivors’ pets while their owner stays in our emergency shelter. The program provides care for dogs and cats, including veterinary services, and assists survivors in securing long-term pet-friendly housing.

“Providing an additional resource to assist a family in distress can only be beneficial. Pets are family, and they need taking care of too. If a family knows their pets are being cared for while they are transitioning, they will have one less stressor to carry,” shared one of the long-term pet fosters in the program.

In addition to the exciting start of this new program, we are thrilled to announce we have received over $18,000 in funding from RedRover to continue supporting victim-survivors and their pets. “This grant from RedRover means that victim-survivors in our community can rest easy knowing that Women’s Advocates will never ask them to choose between their personal safety and the safety of their cherished pets. We are so grateful to RedRover for helping us provide this peace of mind!” said Holly Henning, Executive Director. Pet fosters are vital allies in breaking the cycle of domestic violence.

This only works because of YOU! Learn more and apply today.

Welcome Women’s Advocates’

Director of Housing

Stability Services!

We are excited to welcome Stephanie Plaster to Women’s Advocates as our Director of Housing Stability Services. With over a decade of nonprofit experience, Stephanie has focused on serving homeless youth, young families, and single adults. She brings a wealth of knowledge to lead our Housing Stability team. 

“I love that this program has grown out of a grassroots effort by victim-survivors to meet their needs at a time when no one else would,” said Stephanie. “We know that emergency shelter is key to keeping individuals and family safe in times of crisis, but it is not the same as having a space to call their own.” Stephanie and the Housing Stability team will continue to provide vital support and resources to those in need, helping them transition from dangerous situations to a stable home where they can thrive and build a brighter future.

If you own rental properties in St. Paul or the Twin Cities area, you can help to create a healing home for a victim-survivor and their family. Join our Landlord Circle and commit to checking in with Women’s Advocates Housing Stability Team when you have a vacancy. Women’s Advocates provides rental assistance to each of the families we serve in our Housing Stability program.

Are you able to help?

Please email Stephanie Plaster, Director of Housing Stability Servies,

by emailing splaster@wadvocates.org.

In-Kind Donations Needed 

Most families leaving shelter need to wait for several weeks to get appointments to receive real mattresses. If you are able to help provide new air mattresses for victim-survivors in our Housing Stability program, please email development@wadvocates.org.

Women's Advocates walks with victim-survivors and our community to break the cycle of

domestic violence.

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