By Amanda McGregor
SALEM — The local agency dedicated to eradicating domestic violence has purchased a new emergency shelter.
Candace Waldron, executive director of HAWC, announced that after two years of searching, the Salem-based nonprofit found a house to replace its cramped, aging shelter that has housed 2,400 women and children fleeing domestic violence over the last 24 years.
"Every year, we work with hundreds of kids and moms — and we're always full," Waldron said yesterday during a press conference at the Mass General/North Shore Center for Outpatient Care in Danvers.
Officials simultaneously unveiled an ambitious fundraising campaign to pay for the new shelter — $700,000 by June, and a total of $2.5 million over three years.
"The goal is daunting," Waldron told the audience.
John Auerbach, state commissioner of public health, called the move "an important milestone in terms of the work around domestic violence around the state."
Auerbach was among seven officials and politicians who spoke.
"Through our hot lines, we see that almost two-thirds of the callers say that they need shelter," Auerbach told the audience in a conference room of the medical center. "The demand for shelter is growing. It's not leveling off, it's not decreasing, it's growing."
Congressman John Tierney said one in four women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime, and that there have already been 21 domestic-violence-related deaths in the state as of Oct. 1 this year, which is fewer than previous years.
"It's a notable decrease, but still obviously way too many," Tierney said. "(HAWC's) importance can't be understated. ... These statistics, I think, underlie why we're here to do this."
The location of the new shelter is confidential to protect the victims who stay there. It's in Salem, as was the former shelter, which HAWC sold in August. It will house seven adults and 12 children at a time.
In the meantime, mothers and their children are staying at a temporary shelter in another North Shore community until June, when upgrades are slated to be completed at the new facility.
"It's important you have a shelter that reflects the dignity of the people who stay there," Auerbach said. "This is a very important effort."
Waldron said HAWC sold its former shelter, which had no mortgage, and is putting some of the proceeds toward the renovation of the new shelter and to pay rent at the temporary shelter.
She said the renovation costs more than $900,000 to make the bathrooms handicapped-accessible, add a lift from the outside, de-lead the house, and upgrade the electrical and fire safety systems, including the installation of sprinklers.
"So it starts to add up," she said during a telephone interview.
HAWC is looking for 300 to 400 "cornerstone donors," who can commit $1,500 annually for three years — or $4,500 total.
"If we got 300 cornerstone donors, we would raise $1.3 million," Waldron said. "The rest is going to come from local foundations, corporate donors, banks, foundations we're applying to and individual donors."
A safe place to go
HAWC was founded 31 years ago, in 1978, by a handful of Salem women. It was recently renamed Healing Abuse Working for Change (formerly Help for Abused Women and their Children).
HAWC serves 23 cities and towns on the North Shore, and last year, the agency provided direct services to more than 7,000 victims and prevention education to more than 7,800 individuals.
The agency runs a shelter and support groups, provides legal advocacy and education outreach, works with local police and hospitals, and staffs a 24-hour hot line that fields thousands of calls a year — all free services.
"Domestic violence is murder waiting to happen," Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said. "There has to be a safe haven for victims to go to to begin that first step of the healing process."
Robert Norton, the president and CEO of North Shore Medical Center, addressed the audience and hailed the partnership between his organization and HAWC. He then announced that he and his wife, Dianne Savastano, are among the initial group of cornerstone donors.
"There are so many people this organization has helped over the years," said Norton, who lives in Manchester.
Waldron praised HAWC board members for their support and for pledging more than $150,000 to the Building Campaign over three years.
Other speakers were Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll and Lauren Jones, who read a letter on behalf of Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray. Rep. John Keenan, Sen. Bruce Tarr and a representative from Sen. Fred Berry's office also attended.
A handful of North Shore police officers were at the event.
"Like the Police Department, HAWC is a 24/7 operation," Salem police Chief Paul Tucker said. "We've called them at 2 in the morning, at 6 in the morning, and they're always there for us. This is one more way they can continue to provide the services they do."
Staff writer Amanda McGregor can be reached at 978-338-2665 or amcgregor@salemnews.com.
Want to donate?
What: Building Campaign to fund the purchase and renovation of HAWC's new emergency shelter
Who: To make a donation, contact Alicia Black Weaver, assistant director of development, at 978-744-2299, ext. 27, or by e-mail at aliciab@hawcdv.org.
