On August 9, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul visited The Retreat’s Stephanie House Shelter to announce that the State will allocate $575,000 to The Retreat. The funds will be used for building improvements and technological upgrades to the shelter and the organization’s East Hampton administrative office.

Governor Hochul addressed a small group of Retreat employees and members of the Board of Directors. “This is something deeply personal to me,” she said, explaining that her mother dedicated her life to advocating for victims of domestic violence, inspired by her own mother’s experience with domestic abuse.

Governor Hochul added that her mother opened a transitional home for survivors when she was in her 70s, naming it the Kathleen Mary House, after her mother. Looking around the Stephanie House shelter, Governor Hochul concluded, “When I come to a place like this, replicating my mother’s vision…it warms my heart.”

“This is substantial funding for much-needed improvements to our facilities, which will allow us to better serve survivors who need our help every single day,” said Loretta Davis, Executive Director of The Retreat. “To have Governor Hochul deliver the news of this funding personally is a meaningful mark of her dedication to this issue. It’s clear the work we do to help survivors is important to her, and we are so grateful for her support.”