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Our History 1977 | -- | Women’s Crisis Support and Shelter Services incorporate as private, non-profit Agency. City of Santa Cruz awards WCS a grant toward purchase of Mariposa House, a shelter to replace the volunteer “safe homes” for battered women. | | | 1981 | | A satellite office is opened in Watsonville. | | | 1987 | | WCS becomes one of California’s first funded rape crisis centers. WCS is instrumental in the creation of nation’s first Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), now a recognized model being replicated internationally.
| | | 1988 | | Budget cuts force the closure of the Watsonville office. WCS subcontracts with Defensa de Mujeres to provide services in Watsonville. | | | 1991 | | Defensa de Mujeres incorporates as an independent 501(c)(3) and offers a 24-hour crisis line, crisis and legal assistance programs, emergency shelter and a volunteer program. Defensa receives a grant from the Department of Health Services for domestic violence prevention activities. | | | 1998 | | Women’s Crisis Support and Defensa de Mujeres begin operations under a consolidated administration to reduce costs and coordinate services county-wide. | | | 2005 | | Women’s Crisis Support and Defensa de Mujeres merger is legally formalized. The agency now operates as one 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, serving all of Santa Cruz County. | |
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