To the Editor:
In 1970, I was struggling to protect the women who had come to my house for refuge.
It was a time when nobody verbally recognized that there were such things as battered women.
Yet, secretly people came to me pouring out their heart and soul as to the abuse they had endured.
During that time, I tried diligently to get help from the government and officials to no avail.
In one of my actions, I gave “lips” to the Bergen County Freeholders for their lip service to battered women.
Although I am in Passaic County now, I think it is time for “lips” again, because of the lip service that we are getting and the blind eye that they are turning to the issues of homelessness and battering.
As an example, today I received a call, one of many, from a woman.
This woman had called the 211 hotline looking for help.
Shortly after, she received a call from DCPP offering to “help” by taking her children and placing them.
The woman, as are the many who come to me with this same situation, was distraught and very alone, and afraid.
We said that we would help her.
At present, we have made breakthroughs, and are working positively with Rick Morales of the state, and our pro bono lawyer Vince Gentile from Drinker Biddle.
They have required that we change the classifications of some of our shelters, because they’re not “shelters," because we keep people too long.
The reason we keep people "too long" is because they have nowhere to go.
In addition, DCPP also sends many large families to us, but they won’t pay.
In previous administrations, they have been hostile, because we have fought to keep families together.
Isn’t that what this country is supposed to be about, honoring family and motherhood?
We need legislation that either grants more time in shelters, or offers options for people that need to get away from domestic violence or poverty.
As Rev. William Barber said, “take our poverty and not our children.”
Sandra Ramos
Founder & Commissioner of Strengthen Our Sisters