October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Family Justice Center of Buffalo hosts its annual Mosaic fundraising event in downtown Buffalo Thursday evening. Next month the organization will be opening another satellite home in the Northtowns. WBFO's Eileen Buckley was at the site this week as construction crews were completing a new safe haven for women and children seeking protection from an abusive situation.
Construction were remodeling a small, two-story home owned by North Presbyterian Church on North Forest Road in Williamsville.
Family Justice Center executive director Mary Travers Murphy offered us a tour of this new location that will soon serve the Northtowns community just as the Orchard Park satellite serves those in the Southtowns.
With the help of the church and many volunteers, this new site will soon provide a safe environment to assist domestic violence victims.
"We have more than a dozen churches who have signed on to this project," said Murphy.
A grand opening celebration for donors will be held at the home November 9th, and the new center will open shortly after for clients. It will feature new technology for victims.
"We will be Skyping, eventually, with Family Court so that we can help our clients secure order of protection right here," said Murphy.
Murphy said the most important thing to help domestic violence victims is "keeping talking about it."