HILLTOWNS — When a Hilltown family was turned out of their home, it used to be that they’d have to go to Albany to find help. Ten years ago, Reverend Donald Lyon, pastor of the Baptist church in Wetserlo, recognized the problem and founded Safe Haven, which now keeps two apartments in the Helderbergs.
Recently, though, income to Safe Haven has slowed. The organization has been waiting to receive a $10,000 state grant for four months, said Kelsey Maslowsky, director of Safe Haven. "It’s kind of like our bread and butter," she said of the money that the group gets roughly every one-and-a-half years. But, she said, "Because of all the red tape, we don’t have it in our hands."

The non-profit organization relies on donations in addition to grants to pay for its expenses. It employs two part-time staffers and pays about $1,000 a month for the apartments that it keeps, said Dr. Margery Smith, vice president of Safe Haven’s board of directors. Often, families who use the apartments pay a few hundred dollars towards rent, she said.
The purpose of the organization is to give temporary housing to local residents while they find a permanent place to live, said Smith. "We try to keep it to two months because of turnover," Smith said, referring to the demand for temporary housing in the area. Both apartments are usually filled, she said.

Keeping families in the community is especially important for children, who can stay in the Berne-Knox-Westerlo School District while their families get back on their feet, said Richard Umholtz, Safe Haven’s board president.
Safe Haven hasn’t been getting as many grants as it usually does, Smith said. According to Umholtz, Safe Haven is in no danger of going broke. "We’re paying our bills," he said.
When asked how likely it is that the organization will fail, Smith answered, "I’d hate to say. It depends."

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Donations to Safe Haven may be sent to Post Office Box 553, Altamont, NY 12009.