HYANNIS – A new shelter is opening up on Cape Cod this fall to provide services for survivors of domestic and sexual abuse.
Independence House is expanding its programming to provide the 24/7 residential services at an undisclosed location on Cape Cod for residents in need locally and beyond, according to the organization’s executive director Lysetta Hurge-Putnam.
“It will also include individuals from across the state just to provide a resource, a service, for survivors of domestic violence in need who need an emergency residence while they figure out their next step,” Hurge-Putnam said.
The residential program will be 24 hours a day all year round and will be staffed at all times, according to Hurge-Putnam.
Hurge-Putnam said staff at Independence House had been asked for years if they provided a shelter and that an opportunity for grant funding for the expanded services presented itself.
“It was a competitive bid across Massachusetts,” Putnam said. “For us this was the right time to add this to our services to serve our community and the state,” she said.
Individuals in need of service can contact Independence House through its 24 hour hotline (800-439-6507) and the state-wide domestic violence hotline (800-799-7233).
“It’s the same idea. Nothing’s changed in terms of how we would work with domestic violence victims on how they would make referrals,” Hurge-Putnam said. “So any of our referral sources, for example whether it be police or the DA’s office or anyone in the community, it is still the same number.”
One out of every four women and one out of every five men are victims of sexual abuse.
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