Nonprofit on Long Island helping abuse victims is scaling back services
The Safe Center also confirms it let go of 30 employees.
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After her daughter was murdered in 2016, Patty Kontonis says The Safe Center Long Island was there for her.
"That place was the best. It was really the best. They helped us so much, especially my grandchildren," said Kontonis.
Kontonis says she's worried for others who need the safe center's services, now that the nonprofit announced it is scaling back.
Safe Center executive director Joshua Hanson says they are reducing services and staffing in their non-emergency programs, such as counseling and education.
"Given the ongoing financial challenges of the agency, some significant steps were necessary, and so we implemented scaling back our operations and our staffing," said Hanson.
Hanson says the nonprofit Safe Horizon based in New York City will be acquiring a significant number of the Safe Center's programs. He says the Safe Center will still be there to help the thousands of people who seek their services every year.
"The reality is, we're still there, folks can still call our hotline and access our services, and that may mean us helping connect them with other agencies," said Hanson.
Kontonis says she hopes victims of abuse on Long Island will continue getting the help they need from the safe center.
The Safe Center also confirms it let go of 30 employees. The nonprofit says it's working to help the former staff members find other work.
