About Us
Our Mission
The mission of Sarah's Inn is to stand with women and their families to ensure freedom from domestic violence in every community.
Our History
In 1980, a group of concerned citizens conducted a community-wide needs assessment of Oak Park’s human services programs. The assessment indicated that a large number of women were abused by their husbands or partners and that no services were available to them or their children in the community. Sarah’s Inn was incorporated as a 501C (3) organization in 1981 with the express purpose of offering assistance to battered women and their children in overcoming obstacles that perpetuated the cycle of violence and abuse in their lives. Sarah’s Inn currently provides services to the Austin community on the west side of Chicago and 22 west suburban communities, including Oak Park, River Forest, Berwyn, Cicero, Melrose Park, Maywood, Stone Park, Elmwood Park, Franklin Park, Forest Park, Hillside, Westchester, LaGrange Park, Riverside, North Riverside, Brookfield, Bellwood, Berkeley, Broadview, River Grove, Northlake and Schiller Park.
Our Philosophy On Ending Domestic Violence
Sarah’s Inn defines domestic violence as an assault and/or coercive behavior used by one individual to establish and maintain power and control over another person. This behavior includes physical, psychological, verbal, sexual or economic abuse. Victims and perpetrators represent every race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic group, age and lifestyle.
Domestic violence is rooted in societal beliefs and practices. Society has historically sanctioned or ignored the conditions that condone violence against women and families. The act of domestic violence is a choice reinforced by communities that define societal values. These systems include, but are not limited to legal, economic, political, religious and educational organizations.
Sarah’s Inn maintains a belief that violence and oppression are never justified, that societal tolerance of domestic violence cannot be excused and that influential decision makers and all communities must actively oppose domestic violence as both an intolerable crime and a violation of human rights. We are committed to working individually and collaboratively with members of the community to advocate for social change, legal and judicial reform and the establishment, respect and enforcement of domestic violence public policy.
We believe in the strength of the women and families we serve. We are dedicated to restoring and preserving the dignity and self-sufficiency of battered women and their families by providing a broad range of comprehensive services in the areas of safety, prevention, intervention, advocacy, education and support.
Sarah’s Inn is committed to ensuring a violence-free society with guaranteed rights, protection under the law and equal access to services for all women and their families.