HAVIN Inc. was founded in 1979 by a grassroots organization of women. In its earliest stage, this group of women worked toward their goal of providing services to battered women and survivors of sexual assault by establishing a volunteer-staffed hotline for survivors of abuse. In early 1983, funding from PCADV was secured and HAVIN established its first 24-hour hotline and began a “Safe Home” program for battered women. In mid-1983, PCAR recognized the work being done with survivors of sexual assault in Armstrong County and funded HAVIN to continue its services.