Supporting Safe Havens for Survivors & Their Pets

 

Karen Lindemann had a deep, abiding love for her companions. She had a 150-pound dog who was devoted to her and nursed Quinn, a rescue pet, back to health after the cat became ill with feline leukemia.

This love inspired Karen to connect with staff at 180 Turning Lives Around, a non-profit in Monmouth County that provides a refuge to domestic violence and sexual assault survivors while empowering them to heal. It also compelled the donor to make a unique offer after learning about the lack of space for pets at safe houses.

No DV shelters had ever provided this service in New Jersey. But Karen championed the need for a sanctuary so passionately to the organization’s Board of Trustees that the board member who was most opposed to the idea became its staunchest advocate. Together, 180 Turning Lives Around and Karen created a Safe House program that continues today.

Thanks to Quinn’s Corner, the initial fund (named after the beloved cat who outlived Karen) supported a safe haven that welcomes both survivors and their pets and it has been the only shelter of its kind for many years. But that will change soon. With the launch of Karen’s legacy fund in 2024, Quinn’s Corner has evolved to include a new purpose — ensuring that at least one DV shelter, in all 21 counties, can be a sanctuary for New Jerseyans and their companions.

Statistics indicate that nearly half of survivors stay with an abuser instead of leaving their pet behind. And up to 25% of them will return home because the abuser is using a survivor’s pet to get them back. With the support of the fund, CFNJ is honored to steward Karen’s charitable vision of providing a safe place for survivors to recover and rebuild with their companions by their side.

For the first phase of grantmaking, CFNJ is administering Jumpstart Grants and partnering with the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence (NJCEDV), RedRover and Greater Good Charities to launch the fund. These one-time, $5,000 grants will help 501(c)(3) non-profits in New Jersey to increase their capacity and can be used as:

1. Emergency funds (some examples are funding for a pet deposit for a new apartment, temporary pet boarding, vet bills or pet food)
2. Planning funds to help an organization prepare for the future goal of housing pets on-site at a shelter

To apply, create an account in the CFNJ grant portal and fill out the application by 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2024. Applications will be reviewed and approved on a rolling basis. By January 2025, CFNJ will collaborate with NJCEDV on additional grantmaking including:

1. Funding a shelter staff position of Pet Advocate
2. Capital expenses related to including pets in shelters
3. Emergency or ongoing expenses supporting DV survivors and their pets

For questions about applying, contact Lydia Gracey at lgracey@cfnj.org. If you’re interested in other ways to get involved and support NJ’s DV shelters, contact Aaron Turner at aturner@cfnj.org or 973-267-4987.

Grant Portal | Press Release | Flyer