The need for Women Aware’s services continues to rise.
As the state-designated lead domestic violence agency for Middlesex County, Women Aware moves survivors beyond abuse.
Founded in the 1970s, Women Aware started by providing shelter services to women seeking safety from domestic violence. When the organization became incorporated in 1981, the nonprofit began offering additional services. Today, the organization offers shelter along with legal advocacy, counseling, community outreach, supportive housing, liaisons in child protective services, community education and a creative art therapy program for children.
The number of domestic violence incidents in Middlesex County has steadily climbed over the last five years. According to the New Jersey State Police, there were 5,316 cases reported in 2023 − a 38% increase compared to 2018. Middlesex County also had the third highest number of reported domestic violence assaults in the state, just behind Essex and Camden counties.
In the second most populous county in state, residents reported 19% more domestic violence offenses than the most populous county of Bergen.
As such, Woman Aware served 3,035 clients across all programs, including 245 children. This year, the nonprofit sheltered 186 women and children, providing 13,503 bed nights in safe house and hotel placements and served 54,012 meals.
In pre-pandemic years, Women Aware sheltered an average of 194 individuals per year and provided 8,063 bed nights.
“Women Aware is increasingly called upon to respond holistically to the urgent needs of survivors and their children, a response that facilitates access to food, housing and healthcare,” said CEO Phyllis Yonta. This is in addition to providing crisis and long-term domestic violence services.”
According to Women Aware, 95% of the survivors safely relocated out of shelter and 32 families established independent housing. The organization noted that clients are staying longer − an average of 90 days due to the challenge of finding safe affordable housing.
Women Aware also answered 9,015 multilingual hotline calls on its 24/7 line (833-249-4504). Advocates spoke with callers in more than 11 different languages, including Arabic, American Sign Language, Creole, Gujarati, Hausa, Hindi, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Urdu.
The organization completed 359 shelter assessments and provided legal advocacy to 2,021 victim-survivors. Doing so, Women Aware secured 1,893 temporary restraining orders, 55% over 2023 numbers, and secured 205 final restraining orders, 24% over 2023.
Needy Cases Fund 2025: How to help your neighbors in need this holiday season
In Middlesex County, according to the State Police, children are involved or present during 24% of all domestic violence offenses. This year, Women Aware served 71 children ages 3-12 through PALS (Peace: A Learned Solution), a creative arts therapy program.
Women Aware’s High-Risk Advocate (HRA) partners with the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office Forensic Nurse Examiner and law enforcement to support the immediate and long-term needs of a victim of non-fatal strangulation in the hospital. The HRA and Women Aware leadership trained 87 medical professionals in the basics of domestic violence at three partner hospitals this year. The goal is to ensure a more trauma-informed response to victims.
This year, Women Aware brought on 12 new response team volunteers – eight Domestic Violence Response Team members who are first responders when a victim is at a police station following an incident of domestic violence, and three BREATHE members, who provide support for the HRA in responding to victims of non-fatal strangulation in the hospital.
Women Aware is the lead agency for the Middlesex County Family Justice Center (FJC) − the first of its kind in the county and only the fifth in New Jersey. A groundbreaking initiative, FJC acts as a coordinated community response to domestic violence and sexual assault. Women Aware is responsible for its day-to-day operation.
At the FJC, survivors tell their story once and get connected to the supportive services they need, including law enforcement, legal, immigration, healthcare, counseling, housing, employment, human and social services.
Through the FJC, 653 victim-survivors were served − an increase of 147% over the previous year.
Located on the fourth floor of 100 Bayard St. in New Brunswick, the FJC is open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Victim-survivors can walk in and meet with an advocate − no appointment is necessary.
In March, Women Aware leadership attended the first ever 2025 Washington Leadership Summit and Congressional Advocacy Day held by the Alliance for HOPE International in Washington, D.C. The Women Aware team joined the Alliance and Directors of affiliated Family Justice Centers on Capitol Hill to advocate on behalf of victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.
On National Night Out in August, Women Aware volunteers tabled events in eight towns across Middlesex County, including Highland Park, Dunellen, Jamesburg, Middlesex, Monroe, Plainsboro and South Amboy.
Members of Women Aware’s Highland Park Domestic Violence Response Team (DVRT) raise awareness during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Women Aware continues to rely on community support to fund and fulfill its mission to provide free and confidential services to survivors moving beyond abuse.
“The uncertainties surrounding federal funding test our capacity to manage the escalating and evolving needs of victims of domestic violence in our community,” Yonta said. “We are deeply grateful to our funders, corporate and foundation partners, individual donors and event participants for the financial support that helps us answer these challenges.”
Women Aware has been chosen to participate in a special charitable giving campaign sponsored and funded by Target. Target shoppers have the chance to help direct a portion of Target’s donation to Women Aware. Now through Dec. 31, vote for Women Aware through the Target Circle program at www.target.com/circle.
More information about Women Aware can be found at womenaware.net.
How to support the Needy Cases Fund
From Nov. 30 to Dec. 7, the Courier News, the Home News Tribune and MyCentralJersey.com are focusing on 11 organizations serving Central Jersey as part of the annual Needy Cases Fund program.
The Needy Cases Fund is a Central Jersey holiday tradition, stretching back more than 75 years. The community-service project has been sponsored by the Home News Tribune and its predecessor, the Daily Home News, working with the Lions Club of New Brunswick. The Courier News has joined the Home News Tribune in sponsoring the charity since 2020.
Send donations (checks made out to the Needy Cases Fund or cash) to: Needy Cases Fund, Home News Tribune/Courier News, 92 E. Main St., Suite 202, Somerville, NJ 08876. Please indicate with a note whether you wish to be acknowledged in a wrap-up story about the program, or whether you wish to remain anonymous.
Donations will be gratefully accepted through the end of December.
email: cmakin@gannettnj.com
Cheryl Makin is an award-winning feature, news and education reporter for MyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Women Aware always there for domestic violence victim-survivors
