45 Years of Advocacy. A Lifetime of Healing.
Southern Indiana’s leading advocate for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. We provide safety, support, and a path toward reclaiming power. Get Help Now
Our Mission
Albion Fellows Bacon Center disrupts the cycle of domestic and sexual violence through survivor-centered advocacy and unwavering support. Through prevention education, we create communities intolerant of violence, stigma, and silence.
About Us
Albion Fellows Bacon Center is a trusted advocate for survivors of domestic and sexual violence in Southern Indiana. Our work centers survivor voice, removes barriers to safety, and advances prevention education and systemic reform to build communities intolerant of violence.
Our Vision
About Us
Albion Fellows Bacon Center is a trusted advocate for survivors of domestic and sexual violence in Southern Indiana. Our work centers survivor voice, removes barriers to safety, and advances prevention education and systemic reform to build communities intolerant of violence.
Our Mission
Albion Fellows Bacon Center disrupts the cycle of domestic and sexual violence through survivor-centered advocacy and unwavering support. Through prevention education, we create communities intolerant of violence, stigma, and silence.
Our Vision
Our Core Values
The values that guide everything we do.
Impact
Making a meaningful difference in the lives of survivors by influencing systems and promoting lasting safety in our community.
Collaboration
Building strength through partnerships, shared knowledge, and collective action to amplify our effectiveness.
Open-Armed Acceptance
Creating an environment of belonging by upholding the dignity of survivors and ensuring our services remain open for all people who need them.
Trauma-Informed
Recognizing the profound impact of trauma, we commit to providing compassionate, respectful, and survivor-centered support that promotes holistic healing and resilience.
Our History
Over 45 years of unwavering advocacy and support.
Albion Fellows Bacon
1865 – 1933 • A Pioneer Before Women Could Vote
Who She Was
Albion Fellows Bacon was born in Evansville, Indiana, on April 8, 1865. Raised in a modest household, she grew up with strong values of compassion and civic responsibility. Though women could not vote until 1920, Albion became one of Indiana’s most influential social reformers—proving that leadership and advocacy transcend barriers.
Her Groundbreaking Work
At a time when women were excluded from political power, Albion fought for systemic change
- 1907–1908: Founded the Working Girls’ Association (precursor to the YWCA) and drafted Indiana’s first tenement law.
- 1911–1913: Co-founded the Indiana Housing Association; helped secure statewide housing standards.
- 1914: Published Beauty for Ashes, chronicling her fight for housing reform.
- 1917: Advocated for laws allowing the condemnation of unsafe dwellings.
- Beyond Housing: Championed child welfare, school attendance, juvenile probation, and public health initiatives.
Why She Matters Today
Albion believed that “The home is the safeguard of civilization.” Her vision—that safe, stable homes are essential for healthy families—echoes through our mission at Albion Fellows Bacon Center. By naming our organization after her, we honor a woman who fought for dignity and safety decades before women could vote. Her courage inspires our work to provide shelter, advocacy, and hope for survivors of domestic and sexual violence across Southern Indiana.
Why We Are Named for Albion Fellows Bacon
Albion Fellows Bacon (1865–1933) was an Evansville-born social reformer whose tireless advocacy transformed housing laws and improved living conditions for families across Indiana. She believed that safe, stable homes were essential for breaking cycles of poverty and abuse—a principle that echoes through our mission today.
Her work led to landmark legislation on housing standards, child welfare, and public health, and she became a national voice for social justice. By naming our center after Albion, we honor her legacy of courage and compassion, and reaffirm our commitment to creating safety, dignity, and hope for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
The Center Today
Providing a safe, barrier-free haven for Southern Indiana.
13,000
SQUARE FEET
State-of-the-art facility designed for comfort and security.
48
AVAILABLE AREA BEDS
Private bedrooms offering space, privacy, and safety for survivors and families.
11
COUNTIES SERVED
Reaching urban and rural communities across SW Indiana.
Facility Amenities
Multiple programming and support group spaces
Well-equipped communal kitchen
Fenced playground & basketball court
Advanced security systems & 24/7 patrol proximity
Fully accessible and located on city bus routes
Historical Leadership
Barbara Ellsworth
1990–2008
Candice Perry
2008–2016
Kristie Byrns
2016–2021
Gina Gist
2022–2025
Julia Kathary
2025–present
Facility Amenities
Multiple programming and support group spaces
Well-equipped communal kitchen
Fenced playground & basketball court
Advanced security systems & 24/7 patrol proximity
Fully accessible and located on city bus routes
Historical Leadership
Barbara Ellsworth
1990–2008
Candice Perry
2008–2016
Kristie Byrns
2016–2021
Gina Gist
2022–2025
Julia Kathary
2025–present