About Us

The Ocala Domestic Violence Center is Ocala’s only certified domestic violence shelter, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to helping domestic violence survivors and their children.  All services are FREE of charge. Our professional and volunteer staff conducts a complete counseling, assistance, safe housing and referral program. Crisis Intervention Specialists are always available through our 24 Hour Hotline.  Our agency provides various forms of community education and prevention, as well as group counseling and assistance through our Outreach program.  We have an Attorney on staff to assist in filing for injunctions for protection and representation in court for the injunction process.  We have Court Advocates who help victims file restraining orders and with filling out divorce paperwork, who accompany survivors in court for custody and child support issues, and who also provide relocation assistance.

The Ocala Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Center works proactively to eliminate domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and other crimes in our society.  Our mission is to aid, comfort and empower victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.  Towards this end, we will be the voice of the victims.  Our vision is a community that has eliminated domestic violence and sexual assault through social change and education.

September 13, 2015 tragedy struck our community when a young woman, Benetria Robinson, lost her life to violence as she was leaving the, then, popular Ocala nightclub known as Cloud9. Through CDBG grant funding the Ocala Domestic Violence Center was later able to purchase the former Cloud 9 building to expand our outreach services. On October 5, 2017, just over 2 years after this tragedy, we were very proud to have a ribbon-cutting ceremony for our Guiding Hearts Advocacy Center now located in the old Cloud9 building.