Domestic violence is an extremely complex issue—involving public health, criminal justice, housing, employment, and many other dimensions. Womanshelter/Compañeras began in the early ‘80s as a grassroots collective shelter service; today it is one of the leading battered women’s organizations in western Massachusetts, providing emergency confidential shelter, a 24-hour hotline, counseling, and advocacy on legal, medical and independent housing issues. In 2002, it sheltered more than 80 women and 140 children, served another 1,000 through community-based programs, and 2,500 through hotline counseling. Womanshelter/Compañeras also offers specialized programs for especially vulnerable populations—women over 60, immigrants and refugees, as well as women who are prostituted, incarcerated, and/or substance-addicted. It was one of the first to offer prevention/intervention programs for youth on Teen Dating Violence and Child Witness to Violence. Given the diversity of western Massachusetts, its staff is fully bilingual, and offers interpretive services in six languages. This is a superbly well-conceived, well-managed charity – 85% of every donation helps women directly. Yours will, too.