Safe Homes of Orange County

Orange County Family Justice Center (FJC) – In partnership with the Orange County Department of Social Services (OCDSS), the FJC offers one-stop comprehensive services to individuals and children affected by domestic violence. The FJC services include: legal services, children's drop-in center, intensive case management, information and referral services. The center is also a portal to all of Safe Homes' comprehensive services.

Economic Empowerment: Save Yourself Program - Works to improve the economic stability of women seeking a life free of violence, and to help them on the road to financial independence. In addition to financial assistance, the program offers tuition reimbursement, on a limited basis, and clients receiving assistance can benefit from workshops to help them understand and manage all aspects of their finances.

El Abrazo de Mis Hermanas – This program is dedicated to Latina women who are experiencing domestic violence, offering all of the same Safe Homes' services in Spanish, regardless of the immigration status of victims.

Community Collaboration: Port Jervis and Middletown – First launched under the auspices of the Orange County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, these communities work collaboratively with Safe Homes to encourage Advocate Initiative Contact to offer victims available services.

Support Groups – Four Support Groups are offered weekly throughout the county, in English and in Spanish. Participation is free of charge. Please call the hotline for more information and to register.

Youth Services:

Teen Dating Violence Prevention Program – A trained Youth Specialist/Advocate offers tailored education and prevention programs to schools, youth groups and parents. The Youth Specialist also facilitates teen support groups and provides individual support.

TASA - Case Managers work with pregnant and parenting teens.

Children's Programs - This specialized programming is offered for children residing in our shelter. A children's drop-in center is also located in our main office/FJC at 280 Broadway.

Emergency Shelter - Safe Homes provides a safe and confidential living place for women and children fleeing from abusive situations. This program is available to 13 women and children at a time. They may stay for a maximum of ninety days.

Shelter staff offer participants emotional support, help with immediate needs as well as planning for the future. On a daily basis, Residential Advocates provide help and guidance with a range of needs:

Access to community resources,
Clothing,
Furnishings,
Transportation,
School enrollment for children,
Employment and/or job training,
Applications for financial assistance,
Connections to parenting support services,
Health services,*
Drug and alcohol abstinence support and
Mental health counseling, if necessary.

24-Hour Crisis Phone Line - Safe Homes operates a 24-hour crisis line for emergency assistance, emotional support, resource referral and domestic violence information. This hotline is answered by trained advocates and volunteers, ready to provide basic assistance on first contact-from determining the abusive nature of a relationship, to developing a safety plan tailored to the caller's circumstances, or explaining the process for obtaining a civil restraining order.

The crisis line addresses an array of questions and needs common to individuals being abused, such as shelter, social services, court accompaniment, referrals to legal or housing resources in the community, or immediate emotional support. Some callers are not in danger themselves but reach out to us on behalf of a family member, a friend, or an employee. To these callers we offer suggestions on how to support the abused individual without compromising their own basic safety.