Laurel House

Did you know March is Women's History Month? Throughout the month of March, we'll be celebrating the women in our community and the world who strive to make it a better place each day, and it all began with our Founding Mothers! In 1974, a group of women now known as our Founding Mothers, while volunteering on a hotline, noticed that their phone number was more often than not used as a lifeline for domestic violence victims. The women calling them had left violent situations at home and were driving around with their children all night with no place to go, which prompted the Founding Mothers to set their sites on a shelter for the women and children reaching out to them. Today, Laurel House continues to carry out the vision of its Founding Mothers by serving and empowering survivors of domestic violence. While our shelter and transitional housing programs still provide a safe and nurturing environment to hundreds of women and children on a yearly basis, Laurel House also provides individuals with counseling services, medical and courtroom advocacy, children's programs, and community education. #WHM2025

Thank you to everyone who joined us and Victim Services Center of Montgomery County last night for this year's Shifting Spaces Art Showcase! We're so grateful to everyone in the community who came to support the creative works of students from all over Montgomery County. We saw so many perspectives on what healthy relationships and love looks like to the students we educate this #TDVAM. We would also like to thank Ursinus College for having us on campus to host the showcase and for Dr. Gundolf Graml, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic And Campus Life, for speaking. Congratulations to all of the winners and honorable mentions and thank you again to every student who participated!

Laurel House Executive Director, Stacy Dougherty, spoke at a press conference today with our partners at Your Way Home to shed light on a critical funding gap that has real-life impact on the residents of Montgomery County. The Continuum of Care Program (CoC) is at risk. The CoC program promotes communitywide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness by providing funding to nonprofit providers and State and local governments and promoting access to programs by homeless individuals and families. On January 17, 2025, HUD announced the annual Continuum of Care (CoC) Grant Program Competition Awards for FY2024. The Your Way Home PA-504 CoC was a recipient. This award brings much-needed funding to support permanent housing to persons experiencing homelessness in Montgomery County, including rapid rehousing (RRH), permanent supportive housing (PSH), and coordinated efforts. These awards go directly from HUD to nine nonprofit organizations in Montgomery County, including Laurel House. Each program has participants already enrolled, whose rents are being paid. As of February 26, 2025, the FY2024 grant agreements have not gone out, nor have they received any guidance from HUD to get the grant agreements out. The National Alliance to End Homelessness is also aware that, nationally, FY24 CoC grant agreements are not being issued. Laurel House receives CoC funding for our Rapid Re-Housing program, which allows survivors and their children to find safe, affordable housing. Our Housing Case Manager helps families navigate the challenges of rebuilding after escaping abuse. "These funds are not just numbers on a budget sheet," said Stacy Dougherty. "Laurel House speaks to thousands of survivors each year, and the number one barrier that many of them are facing is housing." "These federal dollars provide rapid rehousing, supportive services, and a path to stability, so that families and individuals don’t have to choose between homelessness and abuse.” Contact your representatives TODAY to tell them how CoC funding helps our community.

Join us and Victim Services Center of Montgomery County TOMORROW at 6:30 PM for our annual Shifting Spaces Art Contest! The Shifting Spaces Art Show is an opportunity to spread positive messaging about healthy relationships and influence friends, family, and more to value respect, safety, and trust in relationships. We're thrilled to welcome new student artists and celebrate returning artists. Check out two of last year's submissions from two of this year's returning artists! Come take a look at more incredible paintings, drawings, digital art, and more from local Montgomery County students at the Innovation and Discovery Center at Ursinus College. #tdvam2025

Registration is OPEN! Join us on May 31st, 2025, for our 10th Annual Walk a Mile in her Shoes? Event at Ursinus College. Visit https://ow.ly/5sLp50V3yBV to register! Attention all first responders! Fire Fighters, Police Officers, Medical Personnel, and Veterans: to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Walk-a-Mile and the 20th anniversary of our Domestic Abuse Response Team, we're offering a 20% discount to all first responders! We are excited to welcome back our friend, and event emcee Preston Elliott from WMMR's Preston & Steve! Proceeds from the event will go directly to support Laurel House’s domestic violence shelter and supportive services. Each year, Laurel House provides life-saving services to over 1,700 individuals in our community who are impacted by domestic violence.

Thank you to the Rosemont McDonald's in Bryn Mawr for hosting Laurel House Director of Community Outreach, Cortney Marengo, and the Lower Merion Police Department for Coffee with a Cop! Police are often the first point of contact for survivors of domestic violence and have served as a bridge connecting so many survivors to Laurel House programs and services. We're grateful for the chance to spread awareness of our Domestic Abuse Response Team and how we collaborate with law enforcement!

Laurel House Director of Community Outreach, Cortney Marengo, will be present at tomorrow's Coffee with a Cop at the McDonald's in Bryn Mawr! Come out to learn about Laurel House services and how we work with law enforcement to help survivors of domestic violence.

Join us and Victim Services Center of Montgomery County in ONE WEEK for our annual Shifting Spaces Art Contest! The Shifting Spaces Art Show is an opportunity to spread positive messaging about healthy relationships and influence friends, family, and more to value respect, safety, and trust in relationships. Come take a look at some incredible paintings, drawings, digital art, and more from local Montgomery County students! #tdvam2025

Join Marian's Attic Thrift Shop staff and volunteers on Sunday, March 23rd for an afternoon of fun playing Bingo! The cost is $35 and includes 20 games (19 regular games and one special). Prizes include beautiful designer bags from Kate Spade, Coach, Michael Kors, and more! Additional bingo cards will be available for purchase at the door for $5 each. You may also reserve a table for 8 for $280. Doors Open at 12 pm. Bingo starts at 1 pm. PLEASE NOTE: No tickets will be sold at the door. Space is limited, and this event will sell out, so visit our website to reserve your tickets today! All proceeds raised will go to support Laurel House's domestic violence programs. For questions, please contact Pattie at [email protected] or 610-337-3068.

Save the Date! Mark your calendars for Thursday, May 15th — you won’t want to miss our 2nd Annual Red Shoe Event! A day filled with networking, a fashion show, local vendors, luncheon, and plenty of opportunities to connect and grow — this event is shaping up to be one you’ll remember. ?? Date: Thursday, May 15th ?? Location: Flourtown Country Club Stay tuned for more details and registration info! We can’t wait to see you there for an inspiring and stylish day. Sharon Laudenbach I rachael packer I Maryanne Brenner, MBA I Paulette Finney I Amanda Glynn I Christina Seigal I Stayci Avery I Lisa Andreola-Kelly #Networking #BWNiceRedShoe #Fundraiser #FashionShow #ShopLocal #WomenEmpoweringWomen