BELFAST — The door to New Hope for Women in downtown Belfast, near Opera House Video, is inconspicuous and easy to miss; its mission, however — to help victims of dating and domestic violence — is vital.

Much like the nondescript front door, victims of domestic/dating violence often “hide” in plain sight. According to a 2007 domestic violence report from the office of the Maine Attorney General, there are more than 30,000 adult victims of domestic/dating violence incidents in Maine each year. The toll adds up to an estimated $1.5 billion every year, representing legal, judicial and correctional costs, as well as those of mental health services.

“Everyone in an intimate relationship deserves to feel safe, and to be supported for who she or he is,” said  Meg Klingelhofer, New Hope’s Community Education Director, has been with the organization for six years. “We each deserve to be able to trust a partner to treat us with kindness and respect even when we disagree.”

Klingelhofer says it is an honor: “to be able to be present for someone who needs to know, [they] are not alone. It is not [their] fault. There are many people who care.” 

New Hope marks is 32nd year of existence in 2013. It serves four counties in Maine and has an office in each, including a location in Bath for Sagadahoc County, one in Damariscotta for Lincoln County, another in Rockland serving Knox County and the one in Belfast, which serves Waldo County.

“Victims of [domestic violence] are often isolated from friends and family and may have limited transportation,” said Klingelhofer. “Having an office in each county can help reduce the sense of isolation.”

New Hope does not maintain shelters; instead, it relies on confidential “safe-houses” provided by trained staff and volunteers. Victims stay with volunteers for up to three days if they are in immediate danger.

New Hope aims to help with every aspect of escaping abuse, and notes that one of the most frequent difficulties faced by victims is the threat of injury to beloved pets. While animals may not be able to accompany victims to their specific safe-house, New Hope has a network of volunteers who will house pets and livestock. The homes provide safe harbor while protective orders are requested/implemented. Transitional housing is also available for up to two years for victims who are not in immediate danger.

New Hope runs a 24-hour hotline available to those in need.

“It is a brave and difficult step to pick up the phone, and we want to be available whenever a victim of violence feels ready and able to call,” said Klingelhofer.

Volunteers receive 40 hours of training. Klingelhofer said New Hope works with an average of 1,000 individuals each year, including several thousand phone calls. From Oct. 1, 2012 to Sept. 30, 2013, New Hope worked with 1,138 individuals.

In addition to the crisis hotline, Belfast’s New Hope also offers walk-in hours, in-person advocacy, an on-staff attorney, court support, support groups, a child-protective services liaison, violence-prevention school presentations and a coordinated community response to domestic/dating violence.

The organization relies on the community for assistance helping those in need.

“Almost every month a compassionate and generous member of the community steps forward offering a fund-raising event of some sort,” said Klingelhofer.

The events vary from birthday parties, at which guests take donations instead of gifts to elegant fashion events, such as Knit-Maineia.

During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which occurs every October, many local businesses erect purple lights, along with a poster stating, “This business is a community partner in ending domestic violence, dating violence and stalking,” in a show of solidarity for all those affected. The first Domestic Awareness Month, designated by the by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, was in 1987.

Klingelhofer said the organization hopes that someone who may be struggling to take the first step might be empowered by the show of community support.

New Hope for Women, which began with just four women, received federal funding and hired its first employee in 1981. According to current executive director Kathleen Morgan, each of the four founders were inspired by their personal experience with abuse as both adults, and children. Morgan said that members of the community, along with the founders, wanted to create an organization to help those in need.

Even the name New Hope for Women was a collaborative effort, “all the volunteers were asked to think of a name [and] they were written onto pieces of paper, put into a hat and [New Hope for Women] was drawn out.” The organization has grown has grown exponentially over its 30 years and all of the services provided remain 100 percent free of charge.

Last year, 6,250 complaints for protection from abuse orders were filed in Maine and 11 of the 25 homicides committed in Maine in 2012 were related to domestic abuse.

While New Hope offers support and resources to those in need, the road remains perilous. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, victims will attempt to leave their abuser seven times before escaping for good. Abusers can wield enormous power over their victims. Tactics vary widely, often including threats to take shared children, threats against a victim’s extended family, and frequently, promises of change.

Despite the taxing nature of the work, Klingelhofer says she feels lucky: “to be able to be a part of educating our children and each other about what a healthy relationship looks like, what the red flags of an unhealthy relationship can be, and how we together can prevent or stop violence. It’s a dream job for me.” 

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com