Mutual Ground

In the early 1970s, a group of women known as the Womens Development Council were concerned about the prevalence of domestic violence around themin their lives, their friends lives, and in the community as a whole. The idea for a sheltera safe place for victims--was born and Mutual Ground was incorporated in August 1975. The goal of this new agency was to provide emergency shelter for families in crisis and offer 24-hour services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, to include counseling, support, and referrals to other agencies. The first shelter opened in1978 on the top floor of a property rented from the First Presbyterian Church in Aurora. The nations economy was ailing, which at the family level translated to higher incidences of domestic violence and sexual assault. Fortunately, things turned around and in 1984 Mutual Ground purchased a two story house on North Lake Street that could serve 14 women and children. Sexual Assault services were housed in a se...