Sanctuary for Families
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Sanctuary for Families is a New York City-based non-profit organization dedicated to aiding victims of domestic violence and their children. Founded in 1984, services include crisis intervention, emergency and transitional shelter, legal assistance and representation, adult and child counseling, and long-term follow-up care. Sanctuary is also involved in extensive training, public awareness, and advocacy programs.
[edit] Public Attention
Sanctuary for Families receives recognition from the mayor's office of New York City and the District Attorney's office. Its pro bono legal services have attracted note in stories about the legal struggles of women who leave abusive relationships.
In Nicholson v. Williams Sanctuary for Families and public interest law firm Lansner & Kubitschek represented a successful lawsuit against the city's Administration for Children's Services. The court ruled against ACS' practice of bringing child neglect proceedings against mothers and removing children from their custody on the basis of them having "allowed" their children to witness domestic violence or their having "engaged" in domestic violence simply by being a victim of it.
[edit] Statistics (fiscal year 2004)
- $8.3 million budget
- Aided more than 9,000 victims of domestic violence and their children
- Crisis shelters housed an average of 43 women and children a day
- Sarah Burke House transitional shelter housed 182 mothers and 240 children
- 90% of those who left Sarah Burke House moved into permanent housing
- Legal Center handled 2,998 cases for 1,856 clients and provided legal assistance, advice, and referrals to an additional 3,000 women
- Children's Program provided services to more than 450 children
