As the Population of Monroe County Rapidly Increases, the Women’s Resources Center of Monroe County Tries to Keep Stride
I stop the car and sit for a moment in a familiar parking lot. I stare at the new Women’s Resources of Monroe County Crisis Counseling Center—a center dedicated to improving the lives of women and families in the community. Four Chinese Oak trees lay their pink, floral hair down next to a silent child's playground; a vacant tire swing is pushed by an April’s breeze. I walk toward the Center’s door and notice a sign that reads, “Helping Here.” In 2008-2009, the organization received 1,721 crisis calls from victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The “Helping Here” sign is an understatement.
After five years since I have returned to the area, I can hardly recognize the new Center or Monroe County for that matter. The increasing population and the rising crime rate are the dominant reasons for the Women’s Resources of Monroe County’s new center.
I spent most of my rebellious teen years back and forth at the Women’s Resources of Monroe County’s old center, as do many young women. I remember watching Linda, a former counselor, walking up the narrow creaking stairs, her long flowing skirt dancing side to side, as she entered the closet she called her office. Their old building was more like a neighbor’s house than a business location. If Linda stayed in the expanding Poconos, she would marvel at the new, bigger and better Women’s Resources of Monroe County Center—maybe she would even have an air conditioner in her office.
In December 2009, the staff moved into its new Crisis Counseling Center, which serves local domestic and sexual abuse victims. Money was raised for the new center by the local community and by the Safe Haven Capital Campaign. Janette Peri, a representative of Women’s Resources of Monroe County, comments, “Although we have embarked on a Safehaven Capital Campaign and received nearly half of our $2.5 million goal, with funding cuts through the state, national, public, privation and foundation funding streams, we are continuing to diversify methods of funding.”
The upgraded facilities have, unfortunately, become necessary, because the problem of domestic violence and sexual assault has grown with the local population. Monroe is the fastest growing county in the Commonwealth, in terms of people moving into the area. Considering Monroe County borders New Jersey and is close to New York City, many of these new residents were originally from out of state. The influx of new residents—among other reasons--has causedfor the expansion of the Women's Resource Center of Monroe County.
Women’s Resources of Monroe County has been providing emergency shelter, crisis counseling support, and education on domestic violence for more than 30 years in Monroe County. It provides the following services for victims, survivors, and significant others of domestic and sexual violence:
- 24-hour crisis hotline
- Emergency shelter
- Individual, group and children’s counseling
- Legal and medical advocacy
- Educational programs for individuals, families, workplaces, and communities.
Considering the influx of population and poor economy, the Women’s Resource Center cannot count on the space of the crisis center alone.
Peri explains, “We have had to unfortunately turn away more people in the first six months of this fiscal year than the total number of people turned away from our emergency shelter services.”
According to a press release by the Pennsylvania Coalition against Domestic Violence, last year in Pennsylvania, more than 100 domestic violence programs were laid off.
Peri says, “With funding cuts mounting, we’ve aggressively been applying for numerous private, public, and foundation grant opportunities to help allocate funding for programs that have been cut.’’ With constant external threats, Women’s Resources of Monroe County relies on their volunteers to help them serve our community’s victims.
Now, more than ever, they are seeking for people in the community to help by donating their time.
“Women’s Resources of Monroe County consistently utilizes our volunteers who have proved to be a great resource,” says Peri. “We appreciate and welcome community members to become involved in our cause and help to assist with the hotline, special events, and other areas.”
With all that Women’s Resources of Monroe County does for the county, the question is what can the community do in return.
Peri says, “We have received great support throughout the community and we have a great number of resources of local business[es] and organizations that believe in our cause. We recently had the WSBG Radiothon on March 18 and 19 where we were able to raise awareness and fundraise to help victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.”
The help of local businesses and community members allows Women’s Resources of Monroe County to present special events, such as Martinis and Manicures, and events supported by Stroudsburg’s Shear Design Salon and Day Spa. A local business, such as Blondies in Stroudsburg features $15 haircuts, with proceeds going to the Center. With local businesses developing creative ways to help, and community members supporting the events, the Center is able to help another person in need.
If you are in need of help or would like to give to Women’s Resources of Monroe County you can go to their website, http://www.wrmonroe.org. Also, follow Women’s Resources of Monroe County on Facebook to get up-to-date information on special events.
Having studied at the Art Institute of Philadelphia and at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Caitlin Kenny is currently a junior at East Stroudsburg University. As an English major on the writing track, Caitlin focuses her studies on creative writing. Currently residing and originally from East Stroudsburg, Caitlin has spent the past five years living on and off in New York City, Washington DC, and Philadelphia; she
now resides in East Stroudsburg where she went to high school. In her spare time, Caitlin enjoys reading, writing poetry, making small films, and traveling. This summer Caitlin is traveling to Australia to intern at a children’s arts center.
