BRICK – When “Patty” first walked into Dottie’s House more than a decade ago, she broke down in tears. The modest three-bedroom apartment was more than just a place to live. It was, as she described it, “a beautiful little home” – a safe space where she and her children could begin again.
Patty is not her real name, but a pseudonym to protect her family’s privacy. A stay-at-home mom, she had made the painful choice to leave an emotionally abusive marriage, bringing her many children with her. Like so many survivors, Patty didn’t realize what she had endured was domestic violence until a friend gently gave it a name.
Her first stop had been her mother’s house, but it was far too crowded to be a long-term solution. In desperation, she called Homes Now, a nonprofit offering affordable rentals. Though nothing was available, she soon received a call from the now late Bill Jungerman, a longtime fixture at Dottie’s House.
“He was probably one of the most important people I ever met,” Patty said. “He told me, ‘Watch the actions, not the words.’ That single phrase has guided me ever since. And he was the one who called to say, ‘I think we have a place for you.’”
That place was Dottie’s House, a program that, for 25 years, provided transitional housing and empowerment services to women and children escaping abuse. On October 15, 2025, the program will shut down permanently, a loss many fear will leave survivors with nowhere to go.
A Vision Rooted In Personal Pain
Dottie’s House traces its roots to Carol Wolfe, an administrator in Brick Township who also founded Homes Now, an affordable housing nonprofit developer. Wolfe named the program after her mother, Dorothy “Dottie” Camilli, who endured decades of abuse at the hands of her husband.
“Her mother had no skills, no way to support herself,” said Mary Furmato, president of the Board of Trustees at Dottie’s House. “Carol’s vision was to create a program that empowered women, to teach them to work, to save, to live independently. That’s how it came to be.”
What began as just eight units grew with federal support into a 17-unit complex of two- and three-bedroom apartments. Beyond the housing, the program offered counseling offices, a family lounge, therapy rooms for children, and strict confidentiality and security measures.
“It wasn’t emergency housing,” Furmato explained. “It was a program. Women signed agreements to work at least 32 hours a week, attend counseling, and commit to life-skills training. It was about empowerment, getting them out into the world again.”
Carol Wolfe died in 2019, leaving behind a legacy that provided affordable housing to many local residents and improved the lives of mothers and children who found a way to escape their abusers.
Impact On Families
Over its 25-year history, Dottie’s House sheltered hundreds of families and an estimated 35 to 50 children annually. Survivors and their children received not only shelter but also case management, counseling, and educational support.
For Patty, that support made all the difference.
“My kids had art therapy, and they were counseled. I had counseling, too,” she said. “They even helped me with my resume and job search. They encouraged me every step of the way. It relieved so much tension from what was a very difficult time in my life.”
Residents paid affordable rent, often just a few hundred dollars, reinforcing accountability and preparing them for financial independence. “They wanted us to have our own stake in it,” Patty remembered. “They made sure you had skin in the game.”
Financial Struggles
Despite its success stories, the program’s financial structure made it nearly impossible to sustain.
The property itself is owned by Homes Now, which leases it to Dottie’s House for $1 a year. Under the agreement, the nonprofit was responsible for maintaining the units – including expensive replacements like hot water heaters, heating and cooling systems, and bathroom and kitchen renovations.
“Some of the units still have the original hot water heaters and air conditioners,” said Christine Hofmann, executive director of Homes Now. “We’ve taken care of the roof, windows, and common areas, but the apartments themselves need major upgrades.”
At the same time, Dottie’s House was legally bound by affordable housing regulations that capped what residents could pay. A two-bedroom unit, for example, might bring in only $525 a month, far less than the cost of liability insurance alone.
“Well-meaning people offered $10,000 donations or fundraisers,” Furmato said. “But that’s just a band-aid. What we needed was reliable, ongoing funding to pay trained staff salaries. Without that, we couldn’t continue.”
The staffing shortage became acute in recent years. “It takes people with experience to support survivors dealing with trauma, depression, or addiction,” Furmato explained. “We couldn’t hire and retain them without paying livable wages.”
The board and staff tried desperately to keep the program alive. Fundraisers ranged from gift auctions to golf outings to 50/50 raffles. The Point Pleasant Borough Police Department and community watch collected Christmas toys and winter coats for residents’ children every year.
“I see this as sadness, because these are the community things that will be taken away,” Furmato said.
In October 2023, she even invited local mayors, council members, commissioners, and legislators to tour the facility in hopes of securing new funding. Despite interest, sustainable financial commitments never materialized.
“We weren’t looking for one-time donations,” Furmato said. “We needed a guaranteed commitment every year to keep our doors open. Without that, the math just didn’t work.”
What Happens Next
Homes Now plans to keep the 17-unit property dedicated to affordable housing, and preferably to domestic violence survivors.
“The facility is perfect for that,” Hofmann said. “It has offices, therapy rooms, a common area, and apartments. We’re in talks with another domestic violence nonprofit to step in. But it will require renovations and funding, so donations will be crucial.”
Hofmann stressed that even if no domestic violence organization takes over, the property will always remain affordable housing, potentially for veterans, seniors, or people with special needs.
One of her immediate concerns is for the families currently living at Dottie’s House. “Our main goal is to keep the residents who are there in their homes,” she said. “We can’t guarantee it yet, but we are trying”
Anyone wishing to donate to Homes Now as it prepares to rehabilitate the apartments in need of repair can call (732) 295-7380. For more information about this nonprofit, visit homes-now.org.
