September 17, 2015
For Immediate Release
WOMEN’S AND CHILDREN’S ALLIANCE TO BUILD SECOND SHELTER HOUSING UNIT
Boise, ID – The Women’s and Children’s Alliance (WCA) has launched a $1.4 million capital campaign to build a transitional housing unit next to its existing secure shelter for victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault. The shelter, called “Serena’s House,” currently houses the WCA’s 120-day residential shelter program, one 24-hour emergency shelter room and four transitional housing rooms.
One in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. Last year, there were 4,552 calls for service in Ada County related to domestic abuse and sexual assault.
“The WCA is making great strides to bring awareness to the devastation domestic violence causes in families and to individuals,” said WCA Executive Director Bea Black. “As a result, more women and children are stepping forward asking for help reaching for safety and freedom and we need to be there for them.”
Leaving an abusive relationship is often a high risk decision. For many domestic violence victims, leaving means that they may not be able to immediately find safe housing or properly feed their children and keep them emotionally and physically safe. In fact, national statistics reflect that domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness for women and children.
The WCA’s 120-day residential shelter program is voluntary and clients stay varying lengths of time, based on their safety and housing needs. However, this program in itself may not allow for adequate opportunities to make the legal and/or financial arrangements necessary to move from the shelter. The WCA’s transitional units provide an additional 60 days during which clients can work to find longer-term, affordable and appropriate housing.
“The WCA provided a safe shelter for me and my daughter to heal. I was crippled, if not paralyzed, by the tapes that played in my head before coming here. You gave me the confidence to grow wings and, day-by day, you taught me to fly. Thank you for investing in our future. I believe with all my heart we will make it,” said a WCA client.
Since 1980, the WCA has offered safe shelter for women and children as well as education, counseling, legal advocacy and a fresh start. Last year alone, the WCA provided 9,583 “safe bed nights” to 176 women and children and we anticipate this number to grow in coming years.
With over $1 million already raised during the quiet phase of the campaign, the goal is to all the funds by the end of the calendar year and have the new eight room transitional housing facility available to clients late 2016. Visit the campaign website for more information: capitalcampaign.wcaboise.org.
About the WCA
The Women’s & Children’s Alliance provides safety, healing and freedom from domestic abuse and sexual assault. The WCA operates secure shelters and provides professional counseling, legal advocacy, crisis services and case management to survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. For more information, visit www.wcaboise.org.
Contact:
Chris Campbell-Davis, Communications Manager
[email protected]
o: 208.343.3688 ext. 11/c: 208.249.9287
###
EVENTS
