Looking Back on 2016 As we close the book on 2016, we would like to take this opportunity to reflect upon a truly incredible year at CCWC. During the past 12 months, our Outreach and Support Center and Safe House have expanded our services and programming to meet more of our community's needs and support an increased number of survivors reaching out for empowerment. In 2016 alone, Camden County Women's Center Safe House, which houses 38 women and children 365 days a year, provided over 1,000 shelter nights to women needing a safe haven. The Outreach and Support Center performed about 2,500 sessions of empowerment counseling, over 900 clients were assisted in the criminal justice system, over 600 individuals received help with restraining orders and court accompaniment, nearly 500 crisis intervention calls were answered by a 100 person volunteer base to police departments and hospitals, the Outreach team educated the community at over 150 events, 30 clients were given tools and support in our Annual Women's Wellness Day, 85 mothers were given support during the holiday season, and 60 survivors met in our aftercare support group this year. There is still more work to do. Each year we continue our work and grow our programming. We work with community leaders, maintain and build relationships with judges, lawyers, and prosecutors, testify in front of legislative bodies, participate in press conferences and press interviews all to raise awareness for domestic violence and the free services that we provide day in, day out to this community.
Thank you for spending another year by our sides, speaking up for survivors of domestic violence.
Our Incredible Donors: Family Strengthening Network AC Moore Sandi Utain Tawanna Donaldson Son's of Italy Shea's Dry Cleaning Camden County Employee Connections Karen Fenton Katie Watts Patti Gilbride College Panhellenic Council
Holiday Giving Grows
Camden County Women's Center gladly grew its services this holiday season thanks to some very special donors. Thanksgiving saw a massive donation of turkeys and canned goods from Tim Shea of Shea's Dry Cleaning, and other food items from NJ State Police and a few other generous partners. #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving held on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, brought in over $1,000 for Camden County Women's Center thanks to a large donation from American Asphalt. By the end of December, close to 60 mothers were registered for the toy shop. So, for the 3rd year, the CCWC Holiday Toy Shop went on with food donations from ChickfilA in Audubon and donations from some of our friends:
TD Bank Kathy Maloney Mary Wessells Crowley Liner Services The Seafarers International Union First Baptist Church in Swedesboro The Boss's Saucery Aim High Foundation Airborne Systems NA Fidelity Insurance Department of Children's Services I'm Free Ministries Johnnie King Mr. Rock Mr. Gracely Kay Steele & Friends Atco Archway Upper School Little Red Robin's Daycare Amy Eckert Kimberly Meehan
CCWC is thankful to Sharon Mayes for her generous donation in the form of the World of Hope Mural. Sharon brought in artist Karen Lassiter and the two donated time, energies, expertise, and products to bring light to our Safe House. The World of Hope Mural exhibits women representing the following words: Warrior, Hero, Faith, Beautiful, Fighter, Courageous, Empowered, Free, Survivor, Unshakable, Hope, Encouraged, and Brave. The women that we serve embody each of those words and so much more. We, at Camden County Women’s Center, are deeply thankful to Sharon and Karen for their lovely sentiment which represents “HOPE."
Senator Weinberg Introduces S2845 New bill requires DFD and the Boards of Social Services to grant Emergency Assistance to an individual or family in a state of homelessness or imminent homelessness due to domestic violence. This bill was approved and moved out of the Health and Human Services Committee on Monday, January 9, 2016.
This bill is vital to the survival and safety of victims of domestic violence. Domestic violence is much more than the picture of the woman cowering in a corner with a black eye.
Domestic violence is about control. Control is all encompassing. It is control that encompasses all aspects of life: physical, emotional, psychological and financial. This financial abuse makes it very difficult for a survivor, when she is able to escape, to obtain and maintain secure housing without emergency assistance. Emergency assistance needs to be provided in a timely and effective manner. According to the NJ State Judiciary Domestic Violence Report for 2015, of the 3004 restraining orders issued in Camden County in 2015, 38% of those were issued to people who lived together at the time of the order. Possession of the residence, giving a victim the right to maintain the residence, was granted in 87% of those cases, but monetary relief was only granted in 10% of those cases. The lack of monetary support, coupled with financial abuse makes it almost impossible for many victims of domestic violence to maintain their housing. But they try. They try hard. When a survivor of domestic violence, hoping to be no longer a victim of domestic violence, has exhausted all of her other options, she has no choice but to turn to a shelter and emergency assistance. For victims fleeing for safety and seeking refuge in a Safe House immediately, housing is a top priority. The current system of a survivor having to wait 30 days to even be considered for Emergency Assistance is damaging to all victims of domestic violence. A shelter stay is generally 45 days. Waiting 30 days to even be considered for assistance keeps survivors in limbo and adds to their state of stress and anxiety. Even if approved, the survivor now has less than 15 days to find housing that accepts their vouchers, will accept their credit history, and has an available unit to fit the survivor's family needs. This takes more than 15 days. Safe House stays are extended. Extended stays may not seem like a big deal but that means the rooms are full. Safe Houses have no beds available for the next person, which leads to Safe Houses having to turn people away because of space while clients wait to hear their fate. When a victim of domestic violence attempts to flee their situation, we, as a society, cannot simply turn our backs and say “Sorry, you brought this on yourself.” Victims of domestic violence don’t cause their own homelessness by being beaten. They don’t cause their own homelessness by trying to use all available resources before turning to social services as a last resort. They simply don’t cause their own homelessness. Abusers cause homelessness. When faced with the decision to take a punch, live in fear, be controlled in every aspect of life or live on the street with your children, what would you choose? You continue to take the punch. By denying Emergency Assistance to victims of domestic violence, we are throwing that punch. We need to ensure that victims of domestic violence are receiving the assistance they need, in a timely manner. Bernadette Maull, Camden County Women’s Center Legal Advocate
Dice and Dessert 2016
Thanks to everyone that came out for a night of fun at Dice and Dessert 2016. Just under $30,000 was raised for survivors of domestic violence living in shelter and receiving services from Camden County Women's Center!
