1978
An idea was born. The founders recognized that there was a need for services to help survivors of domestic violence in the South Asian community.
1985
Indo Crisis Line, a help line run by South Asian volunteers in suburban Chicago, and Asian Human Services noticed an increase in reports of domestic violence
1989
Five Asian American activists got together to to start Apna Ghar to serve South Asian domestic violence survivors
1990
Apna Ghar was incorporated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Three bilingual staff were hired, an office opened in Uptown, and a small apartment was rented for the shelter/safe house.
1995
Staffing has increased to 10 full-time program and administrative staff, Apna Ghar purchases a house to transform into a shelter facility/safe home.
2017
Apna Ghar opened a brand new safe home that was custom designed and built on land owned by Apna Ghar, doubling its capacity to serve survivors
2023
Apna Ghar was awarded the Mayor’s Medal of Honor from Mayor Lori Lightfoot in April 2023.