FLEMINGTON, NJ, AUGUST 20, 2009 – SAFE in Hunterdon is proud to announce that its transitional housing facility reached an important
milestone this month. On August 18, 1999, the Transitional House officially opened its doors as a safe, long-term housing facility for survivors
of domestic abuse and their families.
The Transitional House opening was the result of years of hard work on behalf of the staff, board and volunteers of the agency formerly
known as Women’s Crisis Services. The new home boasted accommodations for up to 15 people. Not all the rooms were furnished at the
time, but they were soon filled, in part through the agency’s Adopt-A-Room program, which encouraged donors to purchase items for the
bedrooms. An advanced security system and cameras were installed to monitor the safety of the clients. Today, the house still feels new,
especially to new residents, who often arrive with little more than what they acquired from their stay at the Safe House.
The Transitional House is the second of SAFE in Hunterdon’s two-part residential program. First, the Safe House provides emergency shelter
for women and their families for up to 60 days. Then, since there is a limit on the length of stay at the Safe House, the Transitional House
meets an important need for women who require further support.
Pat Speierl, Transitional House’s original advocate, who oversaw initial construction of the house and is still involved with SAFE as an
outreach advocate, explained the situation to the Star-Ledger in a story written in 1999. Before the Transitional House, the article stated, “The
agency always felt ‘incomplete,’ because it had no place to send women after they left the shelter.” These two resources are key for clients,
because many women leaving abusive relationships have no place to go, and are unprepared for life on their own, especially when they have
children to care for. This structure allows for women and their children to first deal with the initial trauma of leaving home and subsequently
provides extra time for those families who need it to successfully transition toward living independently.
Case management is still offered, and weekly meetings are held at the Transitional House, very much like the services available at the Safe
House. Women staying there are expected to actively work toward healing and independent living, securing jobs or obtaining schooling as their
situations allow. Program fees for Transitional House residents are based on a sliding scale. These requirements are established as a means to
ease women into the responsibilities of life on their own.
Since there are often many families staying at the home, clients develop strong ties because of their common experiences. They work together
in the upkeep and daily chores at the house, and support each other during their journeys to independent, violence-free living.
“SAFE in Hunterdon turns no client away, no matter how many times they’ve attempted to leave the violence in their lives. We believe
survivors are experts on their own lives and safety. As such, our programs focus on empowering individuals to make their own decisions,
rather than making those critical choices for them,” explained Kim Spangenberg, SAFE in Hunterdon’s executive director. “The Transitional
House is one component of the agency’s services that ensure our goals of providing safety, shelter, advocacy and support to all those in need
are successfully met.”
About SAFE in Hunterdon
In an atmosphere of professionalism, excellence and compassion, the mission of SAFE in Hunterdon is to provide safety through free and
confidential services for victims and survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, including all ages, genders, cultures, religions, sexual orientations
and abilities; empower victims, survivors and their families to live enriched lives free from violence; heighten our community’s awareness of
domestic and sexual abuse; and end domestic and sexual abuse in society. Through a 24-hour hotline, safe and transitional housing, legal
advocacy, individual and group counseling, community education and PALS, a unique children’s arts therapy program, SAFE in Hunterdon
delivers critical support services to the many families that have experienced violence in their lives. For more information, please visit www.
safeinhunterdon.org or call (908) 788-7666. If you or someone you know is in need of help, please call our 24-hour hotline at 1 (888) 988-
4033 or (908) 788-4044.
milestone this month. On August 18, 1999, the Transitional House officially opened its doors as a safe, long-term housing facility for survivors
of domestic abuse and their families.
The Transitional House opening was the result of years of hard work on behalf of the staff, board and volunteers of the agency formerly
known as Women’s Crisis Services. The new home boasted accommodations for up to 15 people. Not all the rooms were furnished at the
time, but they were soon filled, in part through the agency’s Adopt-A-Room program, which encouraged donors to purchase items for the
bedrooms. An advanced security system and cameras were installed to monitor the safety of the clients. Today, the house still feels new,
especially to new residents, who often arrive with little more than what they acquired from their stay at the Safe House.
The Transitional House is the second of SAFE in Hunterdon’s two-part residential program. First, the Safe House provides emergency shelter
for women and their families for up to 60 days. Then, since there is a limit on the length of stay at the Safe House, the Transitional House
meets an important need for women who require further support.
Pat Speierl, Transitional House’s original advocate, who oversaw initial construction of the house and is still involved with SAFE as an
outreach advocate, explained the situation to the Star-Ledger in a story written in 1999. Before the Transitional House, the article stated, “The
agency always felt ‘incomplete,’ because it had no place to send women after they left the shelter.” These two resources are key for clients,
because many women leaving abusive relationships have no place to go, and are unprepared for life on their own, especially when they have
children to care for. This structure allows for women and their children to first deal with the initial trauma of leaving home and subsequently
provides extra time for those families who need it to successfully transition toward living independently.
Case management is still offered, and weekly meetings are held at the Transitional House, very much like the services available at the Safe
House. Women staying there are expected to actively work toward healing and independent living, securing jobs or obtaining schooling as their
situations allow. Program fees for Transitional House residents are based on a sliding scale. These requirements are established as a means to
ease women into the responsibilities of life on their own.
Since there are often many families staying at the home, clients develop strong ties because of their common experiences. They work together
in the upkeep and daily chores at the house, and support each other during their journeys to independent, violence-free living.
“SAFE in Hunterdon turns no client away, no matter how many times they’ve attempted to leave the violence in their lives. We believe
survivors are experts on their own lives and safety. As such, our programs focus on empowering individuals to make their own decisions,
rather than making those critical choices for them,” explained Kim Spangenberg, SAFE in Hunterdon’s executive director. “The Transitional
House is one component of the agency’s services that ensure our goals of providing safety, shelter, advocacy and support to all those in need
are successfully met.”
About SAFE in Hunterdon
In an atmosphere of professionalism, excellence and compassion, the mission of SAFE in Hunterdon is to provide safety through free and
confidential services for victims and survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, including all ages, genders, cultures, religions, sexual orientations
and abilities; empower victims, survivors and their families to live enriched lives free from violence; heighten our community’s awareness of
domestic and sexual abuse; and end domestic and sexual abuse in society. Through a 24-hour hotline, safe and transitional housing, legal
advocacy, individual and group counseling, community education and PALS, a unique children’s arts therapy program, SAFE in Hunterdon
delivers critical support services to the many families that have experienced violence in their lives. For more information, please visit www.
safeinhunterdon.org or call (908) 788-7666. If you or someone you know is in need of help, please call our 24-hour hotline at 1 (888) 988-
4033 or (908) 788-4044.
| SAFE in Hunterdon • 47 E. Main Street • Flemington, NJ 08822 • Outreach office: 908-788-7666 • 24-hour hotline: 888-988-4033 |
Media Contact:
Andrea Lovas
Manager, Donor Relations
& Events
(908) 788-7666 x213
alovas@safeinhunterdon.org
Andrea Lovas
Manager, Donor Relations
& Events
(908) 788-7666 x213
alovas@safeinhunterdon.org
| SAFE in Hunterdon Celebrates Transitional House Ten-Year Anniversary August marks a full decade of safe shelter for families fleeing domestic abuse |
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Serving victims and survivors of domestic and sexual abuse for over 30 years
