Our Work

Our Mission at Coburn Place is to empower people impacted by interpersonal abuse. Our Vision is of a world where every adult and child may live free from interpersonal abuse, housed stably and safely, with adequate financial resources.

Coburn Place is constantly evolving to be a “best in class” program and a leader in the field of domestic violence programs to support our clients in the best possible way. In 2011, we became the first residential domestic violence program in Indiana to implement a voluntary, trauma-informed model of service delivery. We recognize survivors as experts in their own lives and do not mandate programming. We also recognize that each survivor is on their own unique journey to immediate and long-term safety, to emotional and social well-being, to self-sufficiency and to permanent housing. Our programs and services are designed to empower our clients on this journey and partner with them along the way. National trends in service delivery have begun to recognize voluntary services as a best practice.

  • Warm and Caring Environment

    We encourage openness, reject racism and intolerance, promote friendliness and compassion, and value a clean and inviting facility.

  • Safety and Security

    We provide space which is first and foremost safe and secure, giving survivors – and their children – a dependable environment.

  • Respect

    We honor boundaries, recognize the differences and importance of each person, and treat each survivor as the expert in their own life.

  • Housing
  • Well-Being
  • Children's Services

1) On-site housing is provided through 15 studio, 15 two-bedroom, and five three-bedroom apartments and allows you to stay with us for a minimum of six months. Lease extensions may be granted, dependent upon good faith progress moving toward permanent housing goals, up to a maximum stay of 24 months. On-site apartments are provided fully furnished, rent- and utility-free while residents are encouraged to save those funds toward their permanent housing and self-sufficiency once they graduate from Coburn Place on-site transitional housing.

2) Community-based housing is available on a limited basis to survivors with or without children who are dealing with less severe safety, self-sufficiency and permanent housing barriers. This program offers rent-assistance for up to 12 months on a tiered level of support. Survivors are required to pay 30% of their income toward their rent and work with their advocate on an employment advancement/increased income plan in order to be fully self-sufficient at the end of the 12-month rental assistance program. This short-term rental assistance is meant to assist those with fewer barriers to get back on their feet in a short amount of time. It requires dedication and hard work – and we are here to help you!

Housing
  • individual advocacy and case management
  • individual and family therapy
  • support groups
  • criminal justice and court advocacy
  • victim compensation fund assistance
  • address confidentiality assistance
  • HopeLine cellphone assistance
  • financial literacy and economic empowerment
  • housing advocacy and education
  • permanent housing placement and referrals
  • GED tutoring and education advancement
  • wellness education
  • healthy relationship classes/groups
  • pre-arranged childcare for appointments/services
  • budget-stretching direct aid for food, medical and transportation assistance
  • employment/career readiness training
  • substance abuse prevention/treatment referrals
Well-Being
  • indoor and outdoor play/development spaces
  • individual advocacy and case management
  • individual and family therapy
  • support groups
  • financial literacy and economic empowerment classes
  • homework help and tutoring classes
  • GED tutoring and education advancement
  • computer lab
  • wellness education and activities
  • healthy relationship classes and anti-bullying and personal safety programs
  • field trips
  • after-school programs and school break camps
  • civic engagement and philanthropic activities
  • employment and career readiness training
  • substance abuse prevention and treatment
Children's Services
History of Coburn Place
1990s

1996 – Coburn Place is founded as a transitional housing program for survivors of domestic violence after a need was recognized in the community for safe, long-term housing options for survivors.

2000s

2006 – Coburn Place receives designation as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

2009 – The facility undergoes major updates, expanding the space of the Children's Services program in recognition of the importance of children's services.

2009 – Coburn Place separates the advocate and landlord roles to promote safe and trusting relationships between clients and advocates.

2010s

2010 – Coburn Place introduces a Volunteer Coordinator position to strengthen community engagement.

2010 – Coburn Place implements the voluntary-services model to promote client autonomy and choice.

2011 – Coburn Place creates a Housing Advocate position in response to client feedback.

2011 – Coburn Place adopts no-rent policy to prevent clients from being evicted and to help them save for stable housing.

2012 – Coburn Place begins providing access to all resources and advocacy services to clients on the waitlist for Transitional Housing.

2013 – Coburn Place adopts the Full Frame Initiative and implements the overall wellbeing model and trauma-informed care model as part of their wrap-around services.

2014 – Coburn Place expands its inclusion criteria to include male and transgender survivors.

2015 – The Affordable Care Act passes, allowing Coburn Place to reallocate funding to hire additional support services advocacy staff.

2016 – Coburn Place receives HUD funding to create a Rapid Rehousing (community housing) program to supplement its transitional housing (on-site) program.

2017-2019 – Coburn Place undergoes restructuring and rededicates resources to data and grant management for an expansion of transitional housing and rapid rehousing to meet growing demands.

2019 – Coburn Place introduces a multi-funded, low-barrier, Domestic Violence Housing First flex funding model to address barriers to housing stability for survivors.

2020s

2020 – Coburn Place undergoes a logo and branding refresh, and launches a new website.

One Survivor’s Long Road to Safety
Supporter Spotlight – Meet Mohamed Merzoug
Transforming Lives with Transitional Housing
Keeping Survivors Safe
How Survivor-Led Advocacy Works
A Dark Side of the Rainbow

Coburn Stories

One Survivor’s Long Road to Safety

“I’m alright. This is probably the best I’ve ever been. I have work and school, I’m here.”

Read more

Coburn Stories

Supporter Spotlight – Meet Mohamed Merzoug

“Mohamed is the kind of board member who is thinking about the organization 24/7.”

Read more

Coburn Stories

Transforming Lives with Transitional Housing

Dr. Cris Sullivan presents her study of Coburn Place as a national model for transitional housing programs.

Read more

Coburn Stories

Keeping Survivors Safe

We talked about survivor safety with experts from Coburn Place and the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Read more

Coburn Stories

How Survivor-Led Advocacy Works

At Coburn Place, survivors are the captains of their own lives. Learn what that means.

Read More

Coburn Stories

A Dark Side of the Rainbow

Let’s talk about it. People in the LGBTQ+ community face disproportionately high rates of intimate partner and sexual violence compared to cisgender, heterosexual people.

Read more

Our Commitments

  • Our Work

    Housing First

    We do our best to quickly and successfully connect individuals and families experiencing homelessness to permanent housing without preconditions and barriers to entry.

  • Our Work

    Voluntary Services

    We do not require any interpersonal abuse survivors seeking housing to participate in any prerequisite programs to obtain or maintain housing.

  • Our Work

    Domains of Wellbeing

    We focus on the Full Frame Initiative’s Five Domains of Wellbeing as the essential needs to set up survivors for self-sufficiency.

    Five Domains of Wellbeing

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Coburn Place used to be an old school?

Yes! Coburn Place was IPS 66, Henry P. Coburn. It opened in 1915 for students and closed in the late 1970s.

How many apartments do you have onsite?

We have 35 apartments onsite. 15 single-bedrooms, 15 two-bedrooms, and 5 three-bedrooms.

How long can clients receive housing support?

Onsite: clients can live rent and utility free up to 2 years.

Offsite: clients can receive rent and utility assistance for up to 1 year.

When can clients start receiving support services, and how long do they last?

Our support services are available to ALL survivors, regardless of if they are on our waitlist, currently accessing housing support, calling or coming in during crisis, or former clients who are now in permanent housing but still would like to receive emotion and self-sufficiency support.

How long is your waitlist?

Our waitlist for onsite housing is six months to a year long. At any given time, we might have more than 130 families awaiting onsite housing assistance. The waitlist for offsite housing is typically three to six months.

Do you only serve women?

No! Coburn Place serves ALL people impacted by interpersonal abuse, regardless of race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, or religion.

Do you only serve clients in Indianapolis?

No! Because our model is so unique throughout the state and country, Coburn Place does not place geographic restrictions on where a client originates.

Where does your funding come from?

Our funding comes from a mix of federal, state, and private foundations as well as individual donors, corporations, civic groups, and faith-based groups. For more information or to make a donation, visit Get Involved

Our Partners

In addition to direct services from our advocates, survivors can access resources from our national and community partners.

National partners

National Domestic and Sexual Violence Technical Assistance Consortium

National Alliance for Safe Housing

National Network to End Domestic Violence

Michigan State University Research Consortium on Gender-Based Violence

Advocacy

Domestic Violence Network

Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Childcare

Childcare Answers

Dental

Indiana University Dental School

Education, tutoring, literacy, financial literacy

Christel House Doors Program

Indy Reads

Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana

John H. Boner Neighborhood Centers

School on Wheels

Employment

Dress for Success

Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana Excel Center

Housing resources, advocacy, shelter, funding and policy

City of Indianapolis

Coalition of Homeless Intervention and Prevention

Department of Metropolitan Development

Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana

Healthnet Homeless Initiative Program

Indiana Housing Authority

Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership

The Julian Center

Partners in Housing

Pedcor Property Management

Salvation Army

Immigrant services

Immigrant Welcome Center

The Latino Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence

Legal, victim compensation

Center for Victim and Human Rights

Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic

Social services, therapy, art therapy

Catholic Charities

Indianapolis Art Center