Hope Needs Space to Grow
It is an exciting time at the Women’s and Children’s Alliance. We have just launched a $1.4 million capital campaign to build a transitional housing unit next to our existing secure shelter for victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault. We currently have a 120-day voluntary residential shelter program, one 24-hour emergency shelter room and four transitional housing rooms. Last year, 176 women and children stayed with us for 9,583 “safe bed nights”. We anticipate that this number will continue to increase in the coming years.
Safe and secure housing is important because leaving an abusive relationship is often a high risk decision. National statistics show us that domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness for women and children. Our transitional housing units provide clients with an additional 60 days after the 120-day residential shelter program. This time helps those clients work to find longer-term, affordable and appropriate housing.
Through this campaign we will build a separate structure holding eight transitional housing units. This new structure doubles transitional housing capacity and frees up room in the 120-day shelter. Over $1 million has already been raised during the quiet phase of the campaign, our goals are to raise all remaining funds by the end of the calendar year and have the new eight room transitional housing facility available to clients late 2016. For more information please see our press release here and check out the capital campaign site here.
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