October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time when communities nationwide honor survivors and raise awareness. Yet here in Hoboken, domestic violence victims from Hoboken, Jersey City and Bayonne are being placed in the Hoboken Shelter – a facility that is not a licensed residential shelter or domestic violence shelter and lacks proper accomodations.
A team of local advocates a nurse, artist and orator – sounding the alarm about the shelters inhumane conditions and lack of oversight. Notably, the Mayors wife is Executive Director of a Middlesex County NGO for DV victims for south eastern Asian women only. Why aren’t there any safe DV accomodations in Hoboken?
The Shelter collects over a million dollars a year and exhausts $2.250.00 a month in welfare benefits per person, yet only offers a mat on the floor, no health care professionals and no licensed staff and zero clinical support. The board represented by author Audrey Trushke, has gone as far as insulting the community in local media, while ignoring real abuse and habitability issues .
Emails to shelter leadership, city officials and the Mayors office have gone unanswered. Katie Brennan, running for Assembly with Mayor Ravi Bhalla, has also ignored requests for help.
We are calling for a public Town Hall with council members and Executive Director Azadeh Brown. The community deserves answers and real reform. Join us in demanding transparency and dignity for our homeless and DV survivors.
