Dina's Dwellings to Provide Sanctuary for Domestic Violence Survivors

The First Reformed Church is in the midst of a massive undertaking to transform an underutilized worship space into permanent shelter for women escaping domestic violence.

The Bayard Street church is a 200-year-old structure that once held a large congregation, but now regularly hosts services for about 60 people. 

It hosts a number of cultural events in its hall and lends its space to multiple community groups and 20 other church groups, but the sanctuary of the church has become too large and too expensive to maintain. 

The space will be transformed into what will be called "Dina's Dwellings", a housing unit for female domestic violence victims and their children.

The project is practical in more than one way, according to Kramer-Mills. The heating costs for the sanctuary have become prohibitive in a way that prevents the church from using it. 

A plan to renovate the church's three buildings was estimated to cost millions, a heavy cost for the small congregation. The money wasn't there, and the space big and empty. 

"We've gotta do something different," said Rev. Susan Kramer-Mills, executive director of Town Clock Community Development Corporation, the nonprofit agency founded for the purpose of overseeing the project. 

On December 16, the New Brunswick Zoning Board approved a site plan for the project, which will transfer a 3,600-square foot space into two two-bedroom apartments, seven studio/efficiency apartments and one one-bedroom apartment.

Additionally, a new, smaller sanctuary for the congregation will be created, as well as a multi-purpose room that will seat 150-200 people, office space and a media room. 

Kramer-Mills said the housing is named after Dina Van Bergh, a Dutch woman who came to America in the mid-1700's with her husband John Frelinghuysen, pastor of First Reformed Church.

After his death, she accepted a marriage proposal from Jacob Hardenbergh, and lived until the age of 82, continuing her ministry and leadership at the church and in New Brunswick. 

Her resilience through tough times is what inspired Town Clock CDC to name the project after her, Kramer-Mills said.

"(She is a) symbol of strength in difficult moments," she said. 

Women Aware, the domestic violence relief agency for Middlesex County, will handle tenant placement, as well as the programs and counseling they require.

Housing vouchers will permit tenants to pay about a fourth of their rent, which will be set at fair market value, Kramer-Mills said. Tenants will be able to stay for as long as they need to, depending on their needs, she said. 

Funding has been derived from a number of sources, including the Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, Community Block Grant money, Housing and Urban Development, and the New Jersey Historic Trust.

A fundraising campaign on Indiegogo brought in about $4,000, but they still require further financial assistance, Kramer-Mills said. 
 
The space has a few areas that must be preserved, by order of the state historic preservation office, including pillars, the church vestibule and one of the balcony areas, she said. However, the church was badly damaged in a 1971 fire, destroying much of the original architecture of the church. 

Kramer-Mills said the process has already been in the works since 2009. The congregation is are mostly supportive, but some are sad to see their church change, she said.

"Ninety-eight percent of the congregation realized this is best for everyone concerned," she said. 

Construction has not yet begun, but organizers hope to see it underway by spring 2014, Kramer-Mills said. 

For more information on Dina's Dwellings, visit townclockcdc.org.