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 riginally funded under the Comprehensive
Education and Training Act in 1977 to provide services of women seeking employment, the
Putnam/Northern Westchester Women’s Resource Center was incorporated as a
not-for-profit organization in 1979.
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Women's
Resource Center 24-Hour Hotline: (845)
628-2166 |
ith a dedicated group of volunteers and two part-time staff members, the
center began a tradition of providing information resources, skills workshops and
professional counseling to facilitate women in making informed choices and in working
towards their potential. 
urrently with a full
time staff, 24-hour shelter and the continued support of many volunteers, the center
serves approximately 2,000 women annually.
the Women’s Center was officially established
with funds provided by a county grant. Volunteers helped women returning to work with
resume writing, assertiveness training, job search skills and research on jobs.
Representative
Hamilton Fish, Jr. became interested in domestic violence and in bringing professionals
into the county to deal with it. With the help of volunteers from the community group
People Against Domestic Violence (PADV) services for abused women began to be developed.
the Women’s Center had begun to develop a safe
home network. Joanne DePaola was hired to expand that network and develop a residential
(shelter) program and other needed services.
the Women’s Center rented its first safe house.
It had six beds.
was a year of expansion. Full-time staff members were
hired and the shelter increased in size. The Sexual Assault Program, funded through the
Department of Health, was established to provide services to victims of rape and incest.
The Hot Line, staffed by volunteers, was also started. Volunteers also led groups for
young widows and for older women who were alone to enhance services already being given.
with a HUD grant designated for purchase of a shelter, and
with generous help from a wonderful volunteer, we were able to secure an appropriate house
which we named Our Sister’s Harbor.
the Women’s Center focused on community relations and changing
law-enforcement’s response to domestic violence. In 1995, a grant was secured to
support a full time staff member at Family Court.
the Violence Against
Women Act brought federal money into communities to fight domestic violence. The Putnam
County Sheriff’s Office received a grant funding a designated deputy sheriff to work
on domestic violence and the County Executive endorsed another grant to fund a probation
officer to work on domestic issues.
all counselors
and volunteers who provide regular services to residents at the shelter began taking part
in 40 hours of Department of Health training to earn state certification as Rape Crisis
Counselors.
the Women’s Center
provided educational services in all five high schools in the county and the Center
initiated the Sex Assault Nurse Examiner Program (SANE).
marks
the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Women’s Center. In two decades
the Center has grown from a grass roots organization started by a group of volunteer
activists to prepare women for re-entry into the work force to a non-profit agency that
provides comprehensive non-residential services to thousands of clients every year.