There is a Shelter Crisis in New Jersey
Escaping domestic violence requires courage. It also requires confidence that there will be a place of safety, security, relief, and promise of a future that does not include abuse.
There is a shelter crisis in New Jersey. Since the pandemic, domestic violence shelters across the Garden State have seen unprecedented demand for emergency housing for survivors of domestic violence. Prior to 2020, if a local facility was full, survivors could find placement in another county’s shelter.
Today, New Jersey’s domestic violence shelter system is overwhelmed—every facility across the state is at full capacity and overflowing into hotels.
Residential services are often the only barrier between survivors and the devastating choice of homelessness or returning to an abusive home. Survivors need help now. JBWS has always been committed to the philosophy that no one should be turned away.
However, the needs of those fleeing domestic violence have evolved. And JBWS has had to turn away individuals who require our support as we do not have pet-friendly facilities.
Survivor Quote
“I remember walking through the doors of JBWS with my four children, not knowing how we were going to end up. The feeling of acceptance that I received from you was so overwhelming that I knew I had made the right choice.”
50 Years Heeding their Calls
In 2026, JBWS marks 50 years of service as one of New Jersey’s leading domestic violence organizations.
We maintain four key residential programs:
JBWS programs help ensure safety and break the cycle of harmful behaviors, creating lasting change in families and relationships. By offering support and resources, they empower individuals to build healthier, safer lives, making a positive difference for generations to come.
Why Pet-Friendly Matters
Domestic abuse survivors have said that leaving without their pets would be like leaving without their child. In one study, 97% of survivors said that keeping their pet with them factors into their decision to leave. In many cases, abusive partners have threatened to abuse pets, too.
Pet-friendly shelters aren’t just a trend; rather they’re a way to provide additional support for survivors, their children, and their pets at the time when their lives have taken a dramatic turn.
JBWS is committed to being at the forefront of these positive changes. Red Rover, a national organization advocating for pets in crisis, is leading the movement with a call for 25% of domestic violence shelters nationwide to be pet-friendly by the end of 2025.
Adapting to pet-friendly housing and supportive services requires significant funding:
- to build new rooms conducive to pet cohabitation including noise-proofing and ventilation
- to separate from non-pet friendly areas/people to ensure safety
- to create private bathrooms
- to create areas to help care for the pets
- to hire a dedicated Pet Advocate to ensure pets are cared for, healthy, and maintain behavior appropriate for shelter living
A $4 Million Expansion A Moment to Respond
Now is the time to expand and modernize Arbour House, built in the 1930s. More bedrooms allow us to serve more survivors. More capacity requires more communal spaces, including upgraded children’s playrooms. As a part of the expansion plan, we’ll also upgrade critical spaces like our aging kitchen, dining room, and living room and a power supply system insufficient for modern needs.
To do this, we must raise $4 million in philanthropic support. Dedicated to the expansion and modernization of Arbour House, the Meeting the Moment Campaign means better facilities, more space for more survivors, specific living areas for families with pets – it means we do not have to say NO.
Together, this is a moment to do more. Thank you for joining us.
To have a confidential conversation about making a gift to the Meeting the Moment Campaign please contact [email protected].
“Imagine if a survivor who has spent months—sometimes years—summoning the courage to escape abuse finally reaches out for help. And we have to say, ‘I’m sorry, there’s no room.’ Every time that happens, lives are at risk.
This is not just heartbreaking, it’s life-threatening. Our safe house has been overflowing for years, and the time to act is not tomorrow, not next month—it’s now. Expanding our shelter is critical to saving lives.”
