Center for Hope and Safety, Inc. (CHS), founded in 1976, is the only non-profit (501c3) agency dedicated to serving adults and children who are victimized by domestic violence in Bergen County, NJ.

CHS provides emergency shelter and transitional housing, legal services, and a holistic continuum of programs and services. Focused on safety, empowerment, and self-sufficiency, CHS offers clients the opportunity to rebuild their lives and transform themselves from victims to survivors.

The organization sought a grant from The Provident Bank Foundation for support of its Legal Services Program, which requires a private match for state and federal funding. It is the only free and embedded legal services program in Bergen County for victims of domestic abuse.

Specifically, the goal of the Legal Services Program is to continue to assist victims of domestic violence, as they navigate the court system. With the $10,000 Major Grant provided by The Provident Bank Foundation in 2020, CHS is able to fully fund the salary of a third family law/DV attorney, which will enable the organization to provide more legal advice, counsel and representation to people seeking to gain freedom from domestic abuse through the legal system.

In 2019, nearly 300 clients received advice and counsel and 116 received legal representation on legal matters through the Legal Services Program, a 143% increase in legal matters handled. CHS hopes to increase the number of legal matters handled in 2021 as restrictions lift and more clients can be served through the Bergen County court system as it reopens.

CHS also hopes to expand public outreach efforts in 2021 through deeper partnerships with local and regional law enforcement agencies in order to increase awareness of domestic violence and serve more clients.