• Shelter gets $30,000 worth of furniture from Bob’s

    Residents of a local safe house that provides shelter and support to victims of domestic violence have been treated to a home makeover thanks to a generous donation from Bob’s Discount Furniture and its charitable foundation.

    Kathie’s Place, the 15-bed safe house operated by the Bridgeport-based Center for Family Justice, which serves victims of domestic and sexual violence and child abuse in six local communities, recently received a grant for $30,000 worth of new furniture from the Manchester-based Bob’s Discount Furniture chain.

    The grant made it possible for CFJ to replace the furniture in every room at Kathie’s Place, marking the first time in a decade that the safe house, located in an undisclosed location to protect the safety of its residents, had received new furnishings.

    “This incredibly generous gift from Bob’s Discount Furniture has been an extraordinary one for both our clients and staff,” said Debra A. Greenwood, CFJ’s President & CEO in a news release. “Our clients come to us seeking safety, shelter and support for themselves and their children as they work to rebuild their lives after experiencing domestic violence. Being able to live in beautiful surroundings thanks to the incredible generosity of the Bob’s Discount Furniture chain has already had an incredible impact on their sense of well-being.”

    Greenwood noted the gift was a significant one because Kathie’s Place, like other domestic violence shelters around the state, has been operating over capacity for the past several years. Last year, safe houses around the state were at 122 percent of capacity, according to the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

    Domestic violence is known to be the leading cause of homelessness for women and children across the United States.