La Dauphinelle was founded in 1982 in response to an urgent need for resources for women and children. Its mission is to offer women psychosocial support to help them break the cycle of domestic abuse, rebuild their power and regain control over their lives.

In 2012, La Dauphinelle relocated and doubled its emergency accommodation capacity (first-stage shelter). This relocation also allowed for the development of safe transitional housing (second-stage shelter) for women who are at risk of post-separation domestic violence to prevent the risk of femicide.

La Dauphinelle enriches its mission by offering services geared for women who do not call on resources specialized in domestic violence, namely through prevention initiatives and external services. La Dauphinelle also intervenes on the public scene to catalyze policy change and promote actions that help end domestic violence.