Rape Crisis Services of Greater Lowell, Inc. (RCSGL) was founded in 1976 by a group of physicians, social workers and students to respond more specifically to the needs of victims of rape and sexual assault. There were no services in the community for rape and sexual assault victims at that time, and the prevailing attitude towards rape and sexual assault was to blame the victim. For almost ten years, support services were provided by RCSGL under the umbrellas of various Lowell-based agencies including Lowell General Hospital. In 1985, RCSGL was incorporated as an independent agency, based on the model of its sister agency in Boston (Boston Area Rape Crisis Center). It was designated a 501 (c)(3) non-profit by the IRS in 1981. Today we rent office space in a building located conveniently in downtown Lowell.

RCSGL provides support services to survivors, their partners and their families and offers rape and sexual assault prevention programs. During FY 2005, RCSGL responded to 674 hotline calls and served 112 new clients in individual counseling. Approximately 15% of these new clients were men. In FY 2003, Our Prevention Education department reached over 6,300 people including 2,000 teens, approximately 1,675 elementary-school children and 1,790 adult members of our community.