SAFE in Hunterdon’s Executive Director Lauren Van Metre stresses the importance of services to provide support, shelter, safety, and advocacy to survivors of domestic violence in Hunterdon County as SAFE is being forced to cut crucial programs due to reductions in funding at the federal level. The slashes in funding to programs that directly support residents of Hunterdon County will result in the lay off an additional five staff members and a near-dismantlement of the counseling department.

SAFE in Hunterdon, a non-profit organization in Hunterdon County, works to provide comprehensive support to survivors of domestic and sexual abuse who are residing in Hunterdon County. We believe survivors. Clients access our services for a variety of reasons, including physical abuse, stalking, and harassment; we assist them in the following ways:

• Housing: Crisis housing and residential support is a bedrock of our program. Abuse survivors and their children can seek refuge at our safehouse at any time of day or night. In 2024 we reached 4,986 bednights and housed 127 new residential clients. An upcoming program will allow residents to flee the horrors of domestic violence with their pets.
• Hotline: Our emergency hotline is staffed every day of the year, every hour of the day to provide information, emotional support, referrals, crisis counseling and safety planning. Every call is free of charge, and we can accept calls in over 200 languages. In 2024 our hotline received 3,238 calls from those who needed immediate help in a crisis.
• Crisis intervention: Our trained and empathetic Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Response Teams meet and connect with survivors in crisis throughout the year at any time of day or night when survivors present at the hospital, the courthouse, or the police department, providing support and navigation to those who feel overwhelmed and hurt. In 2024 we responded to 237 crisis interventions.
• Gun violence: SAFE recognizes the dangers of an abuser’s access to firearms. In 2024 we provided safety planning, advocacy, counseling, or crisis support to102 clients who expressed serious concerns about gun violence; this pilot program is seeing exponential growth across Hunterdon County.
• Legal advocacy: Our legal advocates provide free and confidential assistance to people seeking restraining orders by accompanying the plaintiff to court, connecting the client to resources, and providing emotional support. In 2024, 262 survivors utilized this program while attending restraining order hearings
• Counseling: SAFE offers free, confidential, trauma-informed counseling to children and adults who have experienced or witnessed domestic violence and/or sexual assault. In 2024, we had over 1,200 counseling clients. Unfortunately for 2025, we anticipate a significant reduction in this service due to federal funding cuts.

SAFE in Hunterdon is here for those in need, for those who wish to volunteer and for those who want to support our mission and connect to our work. Do not hesitate to contact us at 908-788-4044 to access services or to learn more about our organization