We would like to welcome you to our website and hope that you will find information useful to you or someone you know that may be in domestic violence relationship strength to get out.  You will also learn history of THOR.  

The Founder of The House of Refuge, Inc, (THOR) Ieta Kimbrough, was a battered wife in her first marriage. In 1980 while caring for a one-year old baby and pregnant with her second child, her husband severally beat her as he had done many times before. Because of her husband’s inability to maintain gainful employment, they often lived with relatives. Needless to say, family members became very weary of their violent guest, so Ieta and her family were constantly moving from one relatives home to another.

Eventually the family had no- where to go and they found themselves sleeping outside in the stairwell of a church. Frustrated with no where to go, some very caring people recognized Ieta’s dilemma and provided them with a place to stay, until they were able to get back on their feet.

It was out of these experiences that the vision for THOR was born. In August 2001 the dream became reality when The House of Refuge was incorporated and Ieta became Executive Director.

THOR is currently looking for a permanent building necessary to complete the mission of THOR so the healing of women in whom Ieta identifies with can start to heal and live from violence to victory.