Lake County Crisis Center for the Prevtn & Trmt of Dom Violence Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
A SAFE PLACE IS THE LEADING ADVOCATE FOR ELIMINATING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS.
- Income
- $13.0 million
- Spending
- $11.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 1.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 64%
- Employees
- 91
- Volunteers
- 254
- Highest pay
- $162,046, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 65 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 37% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2524 of 24 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $2.4 million spent. SHELTER & CRISIS ADVOCACY - WE PROVIDED 34,829 NIGHTS OF EMERGENCY SHELTER TO 346 ADULTS AND 304 CHILDREN. THIS INCLUDED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS WHO STAYED AT THE SHELTER FACILITY AS WELL AS SURVIVORS AND THEIR CHILDREN WHO RECEIVED NIGHTS OF SHELTER AT LOCAL HOTELS. HOTEL SHELTER IS PROVIDED WHEN THERE IS NO ROOM AT THE AGENCY'S 33-BED EMERGENCY SHELTER. IN ADDITION, WITH THE ONSET OF THE COVID PANDEMIC IN MARCH 2020, ALL EMERGENCY SHELTER CLIENTS WERE HOUSED AT HOTELS. WHILE HOUSED IN THE SHELTER PROGRAM, SURVIVORS AND THEIR CHILDREN RECEIVED COUNSELING AND ADVOCACY SERVICES AS WELL AS FOOD, CLOTHING, AND OTHER BASIC NEEDS. A SAFE PLACE ALSO OPERATES A 24-HOUR CRISIS LINE OUT OF THE EMERGENCY SHELTER, ALSO PROVIDING IMMEDIATE IN-PERSON CRISIS COUNSELING FOR THOSE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER. SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE 24/7, DAY OR NIGHT, FOR SURVIVORS IN CRISIS OR FOR CONCERNED FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS SEEKING INFORMATION ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND OUR SERVICES. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE ASSISTED 2,126 CALLERS THROUGH OUR CRISIS LINE WITH SUPPORTIVE/CARING LISTENING, COUNSELING, INFORMATION, REFERRALS, AND ADVICE. PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: IMMEDIATE SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS FACING DANGER OR CRISIS OR CONCERNED FRIENDS/FAMILY WITH RESOURCES AVAILABLE AT ANY TIME TO ADDRESS URGENT NEEDS AND CONCERNS.
- $2.6 million spent. SUPPORTIVE HOUSING & TRANSITIONAL LIVING - A SAFE PLACE PROVIDES BOTH TRANSITIONAL/SCATTERED SITE AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING TO TENANTS/SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THEIR CHILDREN. FOR FY24, WE PROVIDED (1) 92,892 NIGHTS OF AFFORDABLE, SAFE HOUSING IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING APARTMENTS TO 135 ADULTS AND 172 CHILDREN; ALONG WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE TENANTS RECEIVED 7,306.25 HOURS OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES INCLUDING ADVOCACY, LIFE SKILLS TRAINING, AND COUNSELING.
- $1.0 million spent. COUNSELING & THERAPY - THERAPISTS, COUNSELORS AND ADVOCATES PROVIDED 24,302 HOURS OF CASE MANAGEMENT, ADVOCACY, COUNSELING/THERAPY, ART THERAPY, AND LIFE SKILLS TRAINING SERVICES TO 777 ADULT SURVIVORS AND 423 CHILD WITNESSES. THESE SERVICES WERE PROVIDED IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH IN BOTH GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL SETTINGS. SPECIALIZED ART THERAPY IS ALSO PROVIDED TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. SURVIVORS SERVED INCLUDED THOSE RESIDING IN OUR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAMS
- $2.7 million spent. A SAFE PLACE IS THE SOLE PROVIDER OF SERVICES EXCLUSIVELY ADDRESSING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS. GUIDED BY THE MISSION OF BEING THE LEADING ADVOCATE FOR ELIMINATING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS, A SAFE PLACE OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES THAT PROVIDE A SAFETY NET TO ASSIST VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND THEIR CHILDREN. SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO MEET THE IMMEDIATE CRISIS AND LONGTERM NEEDS OF VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE AND THEIR CHILDREN, TO PREVENT FUTURE VIOLENCE, AND TO HELP SURVIVORS ACHIEVE SELFSUFFICIENCY. THE CONTINUUM OF SERVICES PROVIDED FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE INCLUDES: A 24-HOUR CRISIS LINE, A 24 HOUR ON-CALL CRISIS RESPONSE SERVICES WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, CASE MANAGEMENT, A 24-HOUR EMERGENCY SHELTER, 58 TRANSITIONAL HOUSING UNITS, 37 PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS, FAMILY, INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING, THERAPY AND ART THERAPY, A LEGAL ADVOCACY PROGRAMTHAT PROVIDES ASSISTANCE WITH ORDERS OF PROTECTION, SAFE CUSTODY EXCHANGES, AND SUPERVISED CHILD VISITATIONS, LIFE SKILLS, EMPLOYMENT,FINANCIAL LITERACY AND BUDGETING, ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, OUTREACH ,SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, SAFE YOUTH INITIATIVE (WHICH IS A VIOLENCEPREVENTION AND INTERVENTION PROGRAM), MENTORING PROGRAM FOR ADOLESCENTBOYS TO PREVENT VIOLENCE FROM CONTINUING IN THE NEXT GENERATION, AND ANINTERVENTION PROGRAM FOR PERPETRATORS OF ABUSE - TEACHING THEM ACCOUNTABILITY AND HELPING THEM TO EXAMINE AND CHANGE THEIR ABUSIVE BEHAVIORS OVER THE COURSE OF A SIX-MONTH PROGRAM.HUMAN TRAFFICKING PROGRAM- DURING THE YEAR A SAFE PLACE'S HUMAN TRAFFICKING PROGRAM SERVED 100 CLIENTS WITH DIRECT SERVICE ASSISTANCE, 19 WITH EMERGENCY SHELTER AND 13 WITH TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.INTERVENTION PROGRAM FOR PERPETRATORS OF ABUSE- DURING THE YEAR, A SAFE PLACE'S INTERVENTION PROGRAM FOR PERPETRATORS OF ABUSE RECEIVED 80 REFERRALS, ENGAGED 57 PARTICIPANTS , AND PROVIDED A TOTAL OF 3,263 SERVICE HOURS.FAMILY VISITATIONS AND EXCHANGES - A SAFE PLACE'S FAMILY VISITATIONCENTER SUPERVISED AND FACILITATED 238 CUSTODY EXCHANGES AND 552 VISITATIONS, WITH SAFETY OF CHILDREN AND SURVIVORS AS THE PRIMARYCONCERN. DURING THE YEAR, 123 FAMILIES (WITH 192 CHILDREN) WERE SERVED. 67.6% OF CASES INVOLVED FAMILIES IMPACTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WITH THESECOND MOST COMMONLY REPORTED PRIMARY PRESENTING ISSUE BEING MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES (11.8%), FOLLOWED BY SUBSTANCE MISUSE (10.3%), CHILD ABUSE (8.8%), AND SEXUAL ASSAULT (1.5%). REPORTED SECONDARY PRESENTING ISSUES INCLUDED MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES (39.7%), SUBSTANCE MISUSE (23.5%), CHILD ABUSE (16.2%), STALKING (16.2%), THREAT OF ABDUCTION (14.7%), SEXUAL ASSAULT (13.2%), HOMELESSNESS (8.8%), COURT VIOLATION (7.4%), AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING (1.5%). LEGAL ADVOCACY - OUR LEGAL ADVOCACY PROGRAM, LOCATED IN THE LAKE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO 1,968 SURVIVORS SEEKING ORDERS OF PROTECTION FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. OUR LEGAL ADVOCACY TEAM ASSISTED SURVIVORS IN OBTAINING 1109 EMERGENCY, 1 INTERIM AND 7 PLENARY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ORDERS OF PROTECTION. IN ADDITION, WE ASSISTED 851 PEOPLE TO OBTAIN OTHER ORDERS OF PROTECTION INCLUDING THOSE RELATED TO SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING/NO-CONTACT. THROUGH THE STAFF, INCLUDING SEVERAL VOLUNTEERS, OVER 2,635 HOURS OF ADVOCACY WAS PROVIDED TO SURVIVORS.OUTREACH & EDUCATION - WE WORK TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE DYNAMICS AND EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ADVOCATE FOR SURVIVORS, WHILE RAISING AWARENESS OF THE SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH MULTIPLE OUTREACH EFFORTS BY STAFF MEMBERS DEDICATED TO OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS AS WELL AS THROUGH STAFF MEMBERS FROM EVERY AREA OF OUR AGENCY. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ARE PROVIDED AT BUSINESSES, RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND OTHER COMMUNITY GATHERINGS. WE ALSO EDUCATE PROFESSIONALS SUCH AS SOCIAL WORKERS OR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS WHO MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS. WE PROVIDED OVER 2,871 HOURS OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING THROUGH 1,655 PRESENTATIONS REACHING 26,330 PEOPLE. THESE PRESENTATIONS INCLUDED ADDRESSING THE ISSUES OF TEEN DATING VIOLENCE, THROUGH FACILITATING HEALTHY DATING PRESENTATIONS AT LOCAL SCHOOLS AND AGENCIES - THE GOAL IS TO EDUCATE YOUTH AND TEENS OF THE RED FLAGS, ABUSIVE DYNAMICS AND THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR TEENS. OUT OF THE 1,655 PRESENTATIONS, 373 WERE SCHOOL PRESENTATIONS REACHING 7,462 YOUTHS DURING THE YEAR.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1979.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
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