DOVE Inc., a Quincy-based organization that helps victims of domestic violence, has expanded its services after having its funding restored by the state Department of Social Services. Its Web site (above) can be found at http://www.doveinc.info/.

Six months after a rally was held to save a South Shore emergency shelter that has helped thousands of women fleeing abusive relationships, the shelter remains open and has even expanded its programs.

DOVE Inc., a Quincy-based group that operates an 18-bed shelter for victims of domestic violence, moved its community-based outreach center into a larger building about a month ago. The additional space has enabled the organization to expand its services to families.

The move and expansion comes after DOVE was notified late last summer that the state Department of Social Services would not extend its service contract – leaving the organization facing a $250,000 cut in funding this year.

Supporters feared that without the state money, DOVE – which stands for Domestic Violence Ended – would be forced to shut its doors.

But DOVE, which has an operating budget of about $700,000 and relies on private donations and grants, had the funding fully restored in mid-December after resubmitting a grant request to DSS.

“There was no disruption of services,” said DOVE Executive Director Stephanie Flaherty.

Flaherty explained that the initial grant request was submitted by a grant writer who “didn’t clearly articulate the services we provide.” Flaherty, who was interim director at the time, said DSS asked DOVE to resubmit another proposal.

The second proposal, which Flaherty wrote, included a more thorough description.

DSS Director of Public Affairs Denise Monteiro said the agency did not initially continue its contract with DOVE because after reviewing proposals sent from shelters throughout the state, the agency determined that DOVE “did not rise to the level of what other shelters were doing to serve clients.”

“They weren’t up to par with other shelters,” she said.

Monteiro told Banker & Tradesman last September that DSS notified service providers throughout the state – including DOVE – that the agency had developed a new set of criteria that they would have to meet in order to be awarded a contract. She said DOVE failed to meet those basic requirements, including effectively serving a diverse clientele. DSS funded a total of 69 shelters for battered women statewide in 2005.

DOVE learned in August that DSS was not renewing its contract. The news shocked local community leaders and politicians, who urged state officials to reconsider.

Established in 1978, the DOVE shelter served more than 150 women and 149 children during the last fiscal year. The shelter is one of only five such facilities between Boston and Cape Cod that provide a total of 71 beds for domestic violence victims and their children, according to Jane Doe Inc., a statewide coalition of domestic violence and sexual assault programs.

Soon after DSS announced it was ending its contract with DOVE, the agency temporarily extended the contract through the end of December. In the meantime, two DOVE volunteers organized a rally in October at the State House to urge state leaders to restore funding.

‘Up to Par’
Last week, Monteiro told Banker & Tradesman that DOVE made several changes, including making a commitment to network with other shelters so that abused women could be relocated if the need arose. The organization also has made an effort to hire a more diverse staff, she said.

“They committed themselves to those changes and Â… now they’re up to par with other shelters,” Monteiro said.

But Flaherty said DOVE has been collaborating with other shelters and programs in the region for several years and joined Jane Doe five years ago. In addition, she said DOVE has always been committed to having a culturally diverse staff.

“Those are things we have been doing,” said Flaherty, noting that the first grant request did not include an explanation of those efforts and services.

Since the beginning of the year, DOVE has been working with several local businesses, including First American Title, which organized a fund-raiser in January that collected a little over $7,000.

The support from businesses like First American Title has enabled DOVE to relocate the outreach center – which offers various support services to about 300 families annually – and provide additional services. Flaherty said the center previously operated in space that was about 1,050 square feet.

“We are at about double that now. It’s still small but we do a lot with that space,” she said.

The larger space enabled DOVE to dedicate a room especially for children. In addition, Flaherty said that DOVE is now offering child care services and is partnering with another agency to provide services to sexual assault victims.

To assist with the transition, DOVE has initiated a fund-raising campaign, allowing individuals or businesses to sponsor a room in the new outreach center for $5,000. The money will enable DOVE to continue providing services and to pay various expenses.

“[The $5,000] goes a long way. Our entire food budget for our 18-bed shelter annually is $10,000. We definitely stretch every dollar,” she said.