HYANNIS – Independence House is just weeks away from opening their new domestic violence shelter, following the announcement of a 10-year contract with the state’s Department of Public Health.
The organization 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.
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.
The residential program will be 24 hours a day all year round and will be staffed at all times, according to Hurge-Putnam.
As part of their preparations for the opening, Independence House hosted a “Shelter Shower” over the weekend. Local businesses and individuals provided the non-profit with gifts of home goods from spice racks, to blankets, to pots and pans.
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.”
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