A fundraiser benefiting New Hope For Women, an organization that helps victims of domestic violence in Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Knox and Waldo counties, raised over $9,000 on June 23 at the Boardroom on McKown Street in Boothbay Harbor. Attorney General Janet Mills spoke at the fundraiser about her experiences working as a prosecutor on domestic violence cases.

“This is our biggest ticket event of the year,” said Nan Simpson, deputy director for New Hope for Women. She said funds would go for operational expenses, which is about $2,700 per day. “We have 24/7 support staffing,” she said. “We also make sure our cadre of volunteers gets proper training to help when needed, and staff members are always available as back up.” The group also provides emergency shelter for victims in crisis, and can provide gas cards, gift cards for clothing or other necessities, and helps people in need get in touch with support agencies and legal help. ““We offer legal services and court advocacy through a part-time on-staff attorney and court advocates who can assist clients with protection from Abuse Orders, navigating family law, and understanding the legal system.” Some victims need specific help, such as auto repair, family birth records, or other kinds of immediate services as they are leaving abusive partners.

The four counties covered by New Hope For Women don’t have a shelter right now. In fact, there is no shelter in the coastal area from Portland to Calais. Victims are put up temporarily in motels, a series of private “safe homes” operated by volunteers, or sent to other shelters around the state. But that is changing, Simpson said. “We looked at our budget and noticed that we had paid to put people in shelters for at least 100 days out of the year,” she said. “So now we are looking to buy or build a shelter somewhere in the coastal region.”

The fundraising for that project is not yet under way, but Simpson said she expects it to begin soon. “It’s a big ticket item, but one we definitely need,” she said.

In addition to donations, volunteers, and in-kind support, New Hope For Women receives federal, state and local funding for its services. Last year, the organization provided assistance to 1,400 clients. Although the name is New Hope For Women, the group also supports men leaving abusive partners. “We work with special groups, such as the LGBT community and elders,” she said. “But the vast majority — 90 percent or more — of our clients are women, many with children.”

She said the process for ending an abusive relationship and getting support from law enforcement is much different than it was. “It’s much more victim-friendly,” she said. “It’s not as intimidating as it was, and police, judges, and prosecutors are taking the cases seriously.”

One prosecutor who took domestic violence seriously from the beginning of her career was Janet Mills. In her 32 years as a prosecutor and attorney general, she said that 350 women, men and children died from domestic abuse in Maine.

She told a story about one of her early cases. A woman left her abusive husband, taking her child with her. She changed shelters several times because she didn’t feel safe, finally moving out of state. One day, the abuser’s counselor called her, telling her that the man was planning a trip to New Hampshire over the weekend. “If there’s any reason why he shouldn’t be going there, please let his ex-wife know,” the counselor said. Mills contacted the victim, and the New Hampshire State Police, and had difficulty even getting them to accept that she was a district attorney. She gave them the description of the man, what kind of car he was driving, and his probable destination in Concord. She got the distinct impression that they did not take the case very seriously.  Later that weekend, she got a call. The abuser had shot his ex-wife in the head and killed her. He was in custody, and was charged with murder and is serving a life sentence. His child, and her child, are fatherless and motherless.

Unfortunately, Mills said, this sort of thing is too common. “We need a change in the culture with respect to violence against women,” she said. “We have too many violent games, movies, and songs ... no one thinks a thing about them, but they are setting up the next victim and the next abuser.”

Anyone dealing with an abusive relationship in the Midcoast can contact New Hope For Women at 1-800-522-3304 for referrals or services.   Anyone interested in volunteering or donating can reach the administrative offices in Rockland at (207) 594-2128.