Male-friendly Domestic Abuse Helpline Needs Financial Support

Jan Brown writes, "The Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men (DAHM) needs your help! Our call volume to the toll free 24/7 helpline has quadrupled in the over three years we have been in existence. Additionally, Verizon is working over the next year to include our toll free 24 hour number on the crisis line page of every phone book they make in the country! Please click Read More for the rest of this request for help.

For over three years we have worked out of a small home office responding to callers 24/7, developing trainings, mailing requested materials, and setting up annual educational conferences on male victimization etc. Now is the time to start expanding our services and capabilities! There is a building for sale nearby that has just the space we need to accommodate offices for our volunteer staff and a larger room to hold trainings, support groups and other meetings. There is also an efficiency apartment on the second floor. The building needs some updating and remodeling and friends of DAHM are willing to donate time and services to make this happen.

When we began our mission in October 2000 to give voice to male victims/targets of domestic abuse we had no idea what the need was. The first two years it was quite a struggle to keep the helpline running 24/7 with just two volunteers covering the line and funding limited to a few small private donations. Today we are still pretty much self supporting but we have an all volunteer staff made up of an Executive Director, a Volunteer Coordinator and seven trained volunteers who man the helpline as well as donated services from the American Message Center of Ohio, a 24/7answering service.

We have had over 3,000 calls to the helpline since that time and have discovered that there is an undeniable need for support, referrals, shelter and advocacy work for male victims/targets and their children. Please help us to expand DAHM so that we can continue to do this much needed work!

The approximately 20 x 40 log building (on a slab) we have in mind is sitting on 3.75 acres of land here in Harmony, Maine. The price has recently been reduced to $19,900 and we hear that the owner is willing to pay some of the closing costs. We are looking for a contributor or contributors to buy the building and donate it to DAHM. If one person donated 19,900 or 25 people donated 1,000 each or 250 people donated 100.00 each DAHM could have an office and expand their services for male victims of domestic abuse. Please consider making a tax deductible donation to help us make this dream happen!

To find out more about us visit our website: www.noexcuse4abuse.org or contact the Executive Director, Jan Brown at: 207-683-5758. Thanks!

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