Center of Hope

Center of Hope was founded in 1989 shortly after the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic & Sexual Violence determined that there was a need for emergency shelter and counseling for victims of domestic violence in Maury County. Beginning as a grassroots movement in Columbia, Maury County’s largest city, Center of Hope first came about when the Columbia Business and Professional Women’s Association (BPW) teamed together with the Coalition to bring services to local victims of domestic violence. With the help of local volunteers, the BPW donated their time to establish a shelter facility and provide crisis counseling, information and referrals to battered women. As the demand for services increased and the need for a paid organizer became more and more apparent, Center of Hope quickly grew from a hotline and shelter into a comprehensive agency, expanding its services to provide court advocacy and other advocacy services. Over the years, Center of Hope has continued to progress and build upon its resources to include victims of sexual violence and stalking, as well as male victims. It still stands single handedly as the only agency dedicated to combating domestic abuse, sexual violence and stalking in Maury County, its services today ranging from crisis intervention to long-term case management.