Safe dwelling in Wayne helps hundreds

Wayne County has a wonderful women's shelter - a safe dwelling for women in crisis. It's location is kept secret for security reasons.

Director Karen Cantaben stresses that this service is free and confidential.

People from many communities must, and do, come together to help these families, who are escaping bad domestic situations. Civic groups, churches, boys and girls, grown-ups, can all help the Wayne County Women's Safe Dwelling. Church ladies make and donate quilts, while others knit hats and mittens for the kids during the cold seasons. Some have donated much-needed phone cards. The house also has a connection with Food Link to get needed pantry supplies.

The Wayne County shelter opened in November 1995, ending a 10-year gap with no local shelter. Up to nine people can stay there at one time - moms and kids, or nine women. The ages served are 16 to 83, said Cantaben. Women come from other counties and other states.

"When women are on the run, their main concern is safety. " Quite often, children are in tow.

So far in 1998, the Wayne shelter has housed between 87 and 100 people. Last year, the number approached 150. In addition to the women seeking shelter, another 200 a year call for services, such as being accompanied to, or represented in, court. Gloria Molina has joined the Victim Resource Center in Newark to offer bilingual services.

The Shelter has two Advocates. Helping them are many volunteers, who answer the Hotline calls and take women to appointments. Volunteers do arts and crafts with the kids, help them express themselves and start healing emptionally.

The 24-hour hotline number is 1-800-456-1172.

The local number for the Victim Resource Center in Newark is 331-1171.

top of page

Copyright © 1998
Courier-Gazette, 613 S. Main St. Newark, N.Y. 14513
All Rights Reserved