The Safe Center, located in Bethpage, NY, today announced it has received a $10,000 grant from the WE CARE Fund, the nationally-recognized charitable arm of the Nassau County Bar Association, to support the “Client Needs Project,” which helps survivors of abuse with essential resources, from transportation to temporary housing to legal representation, while they prepare for a life free from violence for themselves and their children.

“In 2023, the WE CARE Grant for the Client Needs Project allowed us to assist clients with emergency money, Metro Cards, gas cards, food cards, household furnishings, moving necessities, and other basic needs,” said Debbie Lyons, Associate Executive Director of The Safe Center. “This grant allows our staff to provide the children and adults fleeing their abuser with necessities to begin their lives again.” 

The Client Needs Project supports basic needs of The Safe Center’s clients in the following areas:

• Transportation and travel, including gas cards, Uber, taxi or MetroCards, allowing travel to The Safe Center office, the Department of Social Services, medical appointments, and Nassau County Courts.
• Temporary housing at hotels and motels, especially when the shelter operated by The Safe Center is at capacity or in the same area as the client’s abuser.
• Gift cards from Target, Walmart, Stop & Shop, Lowes, and other local stores to provide food, essential household items, infant care items, and other basic necessities.
• Health Insurance including basic doctor’s visits and prescription medications. The need to purchase these items anonymously is particularly important for survivors whose abuser would have access to information about what prescription was filled and where it was filled, enabling the abuser to locate them.
• Food, groceries, and meal delivery including specific foods to meet the special dietary needs of clients with medical conditions and religious or ethnic food guidelines.
• Legal fees including immigration court fees, process server fees, authorization card replacement, filing fees, legal transcripts and more. The Client Needs Project supports some of the expenses incurred in legal proceedings that are not covered by the grants that fund legal services. These include the cost of depositions, subpoena fees, transcripts, and more. 
• Moving expenses such as truck rental, PO Box or moving van.
• Educational/vocational needs including professional licenses, occupational books, school supplies, cameras for online meetings and interviews, school supplies, uniforms, flash drives, backpacks, resume supplies, and planner.
• Household furnishings including box springs, rugs and bedding.

Founded in 1988 by NCBA Past President Stephen Gassman, WE CARE funds are raised by the legal profession and the community at large. In its 30- years of service, the WE CARE Fund has distributed more than $5,000,000 through charitable grants to improve the quality of life for children, the elderly and others in need throughout Nassau County. Nurtured by the tireless efforts of lawyers and judges, the WE CARE program has matured into a nationally recognized model for similar programs instituted by other bar groups. With the financial support and personal effort of so many, WE CARE has been able to serve the community in a myriad of ways.

About The Safe Center

The Safe Center, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, is the leading victim service organization in Nassau County, providing comprehensive and trauma-informed services for victims of interpersonal violence including domestic violence, child sexual and severe physical abuse, rape and sexual assault, human trafficking, and elder abuse. In 2014, The Safe Center was created by the merger of the Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence (founded in 1978) and the Coalition Against Child Abuse & Neglect (founded in 1979). This merger created a highly integrated service model to empower victims of interpersonal violence to recover from their abuse. The Safe Center operates a 24-hour Hotline (516-542-0404) providing crisis intervention, access to services, and information and support. Visit https://www.tscli.org for more information. Follow The Safe Center on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.