MONTGOMERY – Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded six grants totaling $283,425 to assist victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in north central Alabama.
The funding helps continue support services provided by nonprofit organizations and helps specialized law enforcement units that investigate and prosecute domestic violence crimes.
“For anyone dealing with domestic violence or sexual abuse, please know that help is available,” Gov. Ivey said. “The grants I’m awarding today will help ensure that vital services remain available to victims of these horrible crimes, and I want to thank the staff and volunteers of these agencies who are helping those community members who are in need.”
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Justice.
“ADECA stands with Gov. Ivey in her dedication to ensuring that victims of these terrible crimes are able to receive assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said.
The following grants were awarded:
- $81,000 to the Bessemer Cut-Off Advocacy Center to help support a domestic violence prosecution unit that serves Jefferson County.
- $72,262 to the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama which provides culturally specific services to Hispanic immigrant victims of domestic violence in Blount, Jefferson and Shelby counties.
- $46,163 to Crisis Center Inc. which serves survivors of sexual assault and provides prevention education in Blount, Jefferson, St. Clair and Walker counties.
- $43,000 to YWCA Central Alabama which serves domestic violence victims and their children in Blount, Jefferson and St. Clair counties.
- $30,000 to Safehouse of Shelby County Inc. which serves victim of domestic violence and sexual assault in Chilton, Clay, Coosa and Shelby counties.
- $11,000 to the city of Irondale to help fund domestic violence investigations and prosecutions in the city.
Along with grant funding, nonprofit organizations also rely on local, private donations to ensure that their services remain available year-round.
ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, victim services, economic development, water resource management, energy conservation and recreation.
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