The Junior League of Albany Helped Establish Albany’s First Domestic Violence Shelter with Equinox in 1989.

The problem

JLA member, Lorraine D’Aleo, learned about domestic violence from her membership in the League of Women Voters. In 1986, Schenectady and Troy counties both had domestic violence shelters for women & children, but Albany did not. Sol Greenberg, Albany County District Attorney, called the establishment of a shelter “the most pressing need in the area of domestic violence in Albany.” D’Aleo and JLA Member, Mary Powell, a nurse in Vietnam, sat on Albany County Domestic Violence Task Force, but observed a feeling of hopelessness from participants. “Nobody cares… we’ll never get a shelter,” Deleo remembered hearing.  

D’Aleo brought the issue to the JLA, noting that “we don’t do anything on domestic violence.”  JLA President, Mary Gay Wood replied “Well, then, start a project.” She knew the JLA had the resources, volunteers, and project management history to do the job.

JLA in action

JLA members dealt with fundraising, site-location, and government and me­dia relations. “It was a multi-faceted project that capitalized on the talents of many different people in the League,” added D’Aleo. The League donated $20,000 in seed money, raised the balance needed, found a house and got it into shape. After issuing a request for proposals, chose Equinox to run the Shelter.  

After voting to approve the project, the JLA began raising money. Through a government connection, we secured $60k from the state budget. JLA members researched past domestic violence-related grant givers from libraries’ card catalogs (no internet back then!) and organized fundraising speaking engagements at women’s organizations, such as sororities, bar associations, and real estate groups, as well as churches and the Albany police. 

During a restroom break during one of these presentations, D’Aleo was approached by a woman who admitted, “I went through this with my husband. I know what you are talking about. I want to help.” Domestic Violence can impact anyone. 

We raised $200k and bought a house that was used for 8 years. According to Deleo, the house “had to be in a neighborhood where everybody will feel comfortable, near a bus line, the neighbors wouldn’t object and could accommodate people from all backgrounds.” 

Key to launch: If the house’s address was made public, it would lose its NYS Children & family services license and endanger its residents. Neighbors were told the house was “emergency housing for people in crisis,” not a domestic violence shelter, specifically. Neighbors were also comforted that police would be more present in their neighborhood. Due to the secrecy of this project, there were no hands-on volunteer opportunities for the league members to connect with residents.  

Meanwhile, while some JLA members worked with lawyers, others were busy securing furniture. The home opened its doors in 1989 with 15 beds. 

the result

The doors opened June 1, 1989. The Albany task force regretted their hopelessness, and occasional skepticism. “‘’These ladies with their white gloves…’ That’s what they thought. ‘Boy they proved us wrong,’” remembers Deleo.

Abuse victims arrived quickly. The first day it opened, a woman showed up with a sick and hearing-impaired infant who needed the antibiotics she left behind when fleeing her abuser. The league sprung into action to secure needed baby supplies. D’Aleo remembers how strong the staff were to experience & help heal family trauma. 

Since turning the shelter over to Equinox for operation, over 2,400 women and 2,000 children have been served. D’Ale and other JLA members served on Equinox boards for years after the transition.

Recently, Equinox expanded this vital program by moving to a new location. Recently, Equinox became affiliated with the federally licensed Whitney Young Health Center, who offers primary care and substance abuse services.