Newsletter: October, 2024
A Word from Our Executive Director
Dear New Hope Midcoast Supporter,
As a community, we are mourning the loss of a mother and daughter, Lisa and Jennifer Bailey of Bath, ME, who were murdered by their abuser on October 6. We are heartbroken for the family, friends and loved ones that are impacted by this tragedy. We stand in solidarity with this community and are here to offer support and resources related to domestic abuse, dating violence and stalking. Our highly trained team of advocates and volunteers are available on our 24/7 helpline at 1-800-522-3304. If you are concerned about yourself or a loved one, please know that you are not alone.
Annually, we celebrate Domestic Violence Action Month during the month of October.This is an opportunity to raise awareness regarding the prevalence of domestic abuse and to offer comprehensive supports to those affected by it. It’s also an opportunity to create a broader dialogue about how we, as a society, can challenge the perception that an individual has the right to have power and control over others in an intimate partner relationship.
During the month, we are offering a variety of awareness gathering opportunities including An Empty Place at the Table, a memorial that celebrates the lives of several domestic violence homicide victims from the Midcoast. We partner with local libraries in Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox, and Waldo counties who offer a quiet, contemplative place to view this memorial. We also offered a Legislative Outreach Event this month to which we invited all candidates from our four-county coverage area who are currently running for office so that they could learn more about the critical services that we offer. In partnership with the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence, we highlighted the legislative activities that we will be engaging in during the next legislative session. The event was well received.
Please join us in continuing to lift up this critical work.
Warmly and in solidarity,
Rebekah
Creating Communities of Compassion
the intersection of domestic abuse, homelessness, and food insecurity
Thursday, November 14, 5:30-7 p.m.
Strand Theatre, 345 Main Street, Rockland
This event is free and includes light hors d’oeuvres
Advance registration is not required
Join us for the debut of our film sharing the stories of two survivors of domestic abuse followed by a moderated panel discussion about how local organizations work together to create and sustain a strong, impactful network of support. On the panel are Executive Directors from New Hope, Area Interfaith Outreach (AIO), and Homeworthy (formerly the Knox County Homeless Coalition) as well as a client featured in the film and the filmmaker. Media Specialist, Jo Dondis, joins us as moderator
Everyone is welcome!
Be sure to mark your calendars and join us at the Strand!
For more information click here.
Residential Services
During FY24 (October 1, 2023-September 30, 2024):
- Twenty-seven families and individuals, including 34 children, received support through our Continuum of Care (CoC) Rapid Re-Housing grant
- Eleven families and 26 children received support through our Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) grant
- We supported six women and 14 children In partnership with Community Housing of Maine
- Advocates helped house six families and 20 children in partnership with the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence (MCEDV)
- New Hope advocates helped 15 families secure Maine Housing vouchers
- We provided 2,179 nights of shelter for 79 adults and 55 children
Education
Dr. Xavier Guadalupe-Diaz recently spoke on the current state of Transgender Intimate Partner Violence in the U.S. Attendees in both Rockland and Boothbay were interested to hear about the commonalities between intimate partner violence in heterosexual relationships and in relationships involving transgender individuals. Attendees identified the need to “think more deeply about power and identity and how we analyze this,” were excited to hear about the changes in healthcare and domestic abuse shelter options for transgender people, and look forward to reading Dr. Guadalupe-Diaz’s books, Transgressed: Intimate Partner Violence in Transgender Lives (2019) and Transgender Intimate Partner Violence: A Comprehensive Introduction (2020).
Legal Advocacy
New Hope advocates and members of the District Attorney’s Office recently participated in a non-fatal strangulation training and are now planning regular, district-wide trainings on the subject to help prosecutors better understand non-fatal strangulation and how it may present in domestic violence cases.
Our legal team holds quarterly Coordinated Community Response meetings with partners from law enforcement, the Department of Health and Human Services, healthcare providers, the district attorney’s office, and Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine (SASSMM). This quarter focused on reviewing case scenarios and how different agencies might respond.
Community of Hope Columns
Have you seen our latest article, Domestic Abuse: A Barrier to the Polls? Click here to read about how domestic abuse poses challenges to accessing voting information, to staying safe throughout the election process, and to getting to the polls.