Domestic Violence Resources Pitched In Horsham

HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, PA — With incidents of domestic violence still a constant problem, the Montgomery County Prothonotary’s Office is making the rounds to tout resources to help communities assist residents.

Montgomery County Prothonotary Noah Marlier visited the Horsham Township Council this past week to discuss his department's Hope Card program, a resource for domestic abuse.

The Prothonotary’s Office handles all the non-criminal court filings in Montgomery County.

Those filings include divorces, lawsuits, family disputes, name changes, landlord-tenant disputes and protection from abuse orders, or PFAs.

Marlier, in his presentation to the council, said his office handles 20 to 50 applications a week for PFAs from both genders, senior citizens, and younger and older residents.

But most of those PFA requests come from women abused by men.

The PFA application process has now become easier.

Marlier said the application process is detailed and can be time-consuming, but his office has made applying for a PFA easier by allowing people to fill out the forms online.

The Hope Card, Marlier said, is issued by Montgomery County to applicants who receive a PFA order. It has information that can be easily accessed by police and also has a list of resources that can be utilized.

The Hope Card program was instituted two years ago, and plans are in the works to have it run statewide, Marlier said.

The card provides people with a convenient, wallet-sized summary of their PFA order.

Some of the resources the county office offers are:

• Laurel House 24/7 Hotline – 800-642-3150
• Montgomery County Emergency Operations Center – 610-635-4300
• Prothonotary’s Protection From Abuse Department – 610-278-1191
• Women’s Center of Montgomery County – 610-279-1548
• Women’s Center of Montgomery County 24-hour Hotline – 1-800-773-2424