Give.org logo
Support Give.org
Support Give.org
CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: June 2026 Expires: June 2027

Lydia's House

Accredited Charity
Accredited Charity

Meets Standards
(314) 771-4411
PO Box 2722
Saint Louis, MO, 63116
https://lydiashouse.org/
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

Lydia's House meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
To provide domestic violence survivors a safe place to heal, a voice for justice, and an opportunity for better and sustainable lives.  

Year, State Incorporated:
1995, MO

Lydia's House provides (1) safe, confidentially-located, furnished apartments outside of an emergency shelter environment, (2) up to 24 months to recover from abuse and build new lives, and (3) support services tailored specifically to the needs of domestic violence survivors. Currently, the agency has the capacity to serve 50 adults and up to 85 children, all referred by area domestic violence emergency shelters, other service providers, and/or self referred for resources. The agency provides the following comprehensive programs to help ensure residents successful transition from abusive pasts to safe, independent futures: Transitional housing for victims, adults and children, 30 to 90 days in an emergency shelter is not enough time to recover from abuse and build households independent of their batterers. Lydia's House offers confidentially-located, furnished apartments for up to 24 months, time that is vital to these individuals and their children working toward independence. Family Support Services - Each survivor and child living at Lydia's House has access to the following comprehensive Family Support Services: (1) Advocates who help each survivor define educational, employment, parenting, legal, financial, and counseling goals when survivors enter the program, meet with survivors regularly to discuss progress toward those goals, help them meet their needs for clothing, medical care, etc., and provide information about and referrals to useful community resources as survivors move toward independence; (2) Children's Advocates who conduct weekly sessions with each child, serve as liaisons to schools and other community resources, and provide positive parenting skills workshops; (3) weekly peer support groups facilitated by Advocates and optional spiritual support groups; (4) community meals and social activities where residents can build informal relationships and celebrate significant life events and changes; (5) economic literacy classes; and (6) employment enhancement and training opportunities, job-readiness assessments, computer training, career planning, GED training, health classes, self-esteem workshops, and access to accredited distance learning programs. Community Outreach and Education - The Community Outreach and Education program increases community awareness of domestic violence, provides resources to organizations as they support families in crisis, and encourages individuals as well as faith-based and community organizations to work together to end domestic violence. Representatives of Lydia's House offer presentations on domestic violence, current issues, healthy relationship skills, and other related topics to groups of adults and teenagers on request. Since opening its doors in 1995, Lydia's House has served more than 1,364 domestic violence survivors, giving them the time and support necessary to recover from the psychological and physical effects of domestic violence. Over 90% of its residents completing the program leave with stable employment and safe housing.

For the year ended September 30, 2025, Lydia's House's program expenses were:

Programs $1,613,496
Total Program Expenses $1,613,496

Chief Executive
Karen Kirk, President/CEO

Compensation*
$184,509

Chair of the Board
Kathleen Judge

Board Size
13

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Grant proposals, Internet, Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on Lydia's House's audited financial statements - consolidated for the year ended September 30, 2025.

Source of Funds
Government Support $1,023,972
Contributions $931,943
Special Events $454,320
Realized Gain on Investments $401,180
Interest and Dividend Income $78,156
In-Kind Contributions $23,522
Rental Income $9,600
Miscellaneous $2,053
Merchandise and Food Sales $-59,547
Unrealized Gain on Investments $-148,826
Total Income $2,716,373

Programs: 75% Fundraising: 16% Administrative: 8%

Total Income $2,716,373
Total expenses: $2,142,959
  Program expenses $1,613,496
  Fundraising expenses $349,677
  Administrative expenses $174,150
  Other expenses $5,636
Income in Excess of Expenses $573,414
Beginning Net Assets $6,597,243
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $7,170,657
Total Liabilities $120,421
Total Assets $7,291,078

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

RELATED CONTENT

Report completed by:
BBB of Eastern & Southwest Missouri & Southern Illinois