A crisis center for survivors of domestic and sexual violence is celebrating four decades of providing resources for victimized residents in Utah County.

The Refuge Utah, formerly known as the Center for Women and Children in Crisis, works with thousands of people to ensure a safe, caring and healing environment to those experiencing different forms of abuse, including domestic violence, rape, sexual assault and stalking.

Since 1984, the organization has worked to advocate for victims with the goal of reducing these instances of violence in the community.

As The Refuge marks the milestone with a 40th anniversary celebration next week, it will be highlighting some of the women and men who have displayed strength and resilience amid such traumatic events.

“We will have survivors that will be sharing their stories throughout the evening. So we’ll have speakers about every 20 minutes, sharing their experiences,” Executive Director Ashlee Taylor told the Daily Herald.

She said it’s rewarding to see how the organization’s transitional services help former clients defy adversity. “It’s amazing to see the difference that it makes when somebody has someone supporting them, and just that little bit of support that they (needed) to really turn their lives on a different path,” Taylor said.

While this year may cause for a celebration, the work of combating domestic and sexual abuse seems to be intensifying.

The Refuge Utah has seen an increase in victims of domestic and sexual abuse needing shelter, as well as a spike in calls to its 24-hour hotlines.

In 2022, the organization secured over 12,000 emergency and transitional housing nights, answered 2,950 hotline calls and provided 3,308 advocacy hours, its website states.

The demand for shelter soared even higher in 2023 after lawmakers began requiring first responders to use a lethality assessment in domestic violence situations.

Though the tool isn’t new, Taylor said they’ve had a 200% increase in referrals from law enforcement agencies conducting the assessments. “It’s amazing to see how this mandate has gone into effect, connecting new survivors with resources that they may or may not have come across without,” she said.

As calls to the center increase, so does the need for critical shelter.

The Refuge serves multiple areas along the Wasatch Back and in central Utah, but its Utah County safe house is running short on space.

“We’ve been able to serve so many survivors over the years, but we’ve also been a little bit limited based on just our facilities in our space, and that’s really a focus for us,” Taylor said.

The Refuge Utah is in the very early stages of building a new facility in Orem that Taylor says will better meet the needs of everyone in the community.

Information on where exactly it will be located or an anticipated opening were unavailable, as many details are being worked out. Regardless of when the bigger facility opens, Taylor says The Refuge remains committed to being a resource for victims escaping traumatic circumstances.

“A lot of times, people don’t know about our services when they need them the most,” Taylor said. “So we just want people to know that we’re here, we’re out in the community and we’re here ready to serve survivors.”

The Refuge’s 40th anniversary event starts at 6 p.m. Aug. 8 at the Orchard at University Place Mall in Orem.