MONTGOMERY – Six nonprofit organizations that assist victims of abuse in central Alabama are receiving support in the form of $254,500 in grants from Gov. Kay Ivey.
The grants will help the organizations continue to offer shelter, support groups and other assistance to victims of domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault.
“Abuse of any kind is a horrible crime with often devastating consequences, and that is why victims need and deserve access to professional assistance in their communities,” Gov. Ivey said. “I commend the efforts of these organizations to assist victims at a time they need it most, and I am hopeful that these grants will help them as they continue their important work in central Alabama.”
King’s Home Inc. is using a $100,000 grant to provide food, housing, clothing, transportation, counseling, long-term shelter and other needed assistance to domestic violence victims in Jefferson, Shelby and Tuscaloosa counties.
With a $41,500 grant, the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama will continue offering culturally specific services to Spanish-speaking victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Blount, Jefferson and Shelby counties. The services include counseling, advocates to accompany victims to criminal justice proceedings and crisis management services.
A $37,500 grant will help Safehouse of Shelby County Inc. offer emergency shelter and employ advocates to assist domestic violence victims. The organization also provides specialized examinations for victims of sexual assault that aid in the prosecution of cases. Safehouse assists victims in Chilton, Clay, Coosa and Shelby counties.
The Bessemer Cut-Off Advocacy Center will use a $35,000 grant to assist child abuse victims in west Jefferson County through the Clay House Children’s Center. The center brings together personnel from multiple law enforcement and support agencies to assist victims and their families in a child-friendly environment.
A $27,000 grant is supporting the operations of the Birmingham-based Crisis Center Inc. which assists sexual assault victims in Blount, Jefferson, St. Clair and Walker counties. The center offers 24-hour assistance including forensic medical exams, individual and group counseling, medical and legal advocacy and transportation.
Birmingham-based Prescott House Child Advocacy Center is using a $13,500 grant to assist child abuse victims in Jefferson County. The center provides a child friendly environment where victims only have to talk about details of the abuse one time with specially trained interviewers. The interviews are shared with investigating agencies for use in abuse cases. The center also offers counseling, therapy and other support services.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available to Alabama by the U.S. Department of Justice.
“ADECA joins Gov. Ivey in supporting the important work that these organizations perform every day to aid survivors of abuse and help them recover,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “Through these grants, we can work to ensure that a full range of assistance is available to those who have suffered from abuse in central Alabama.”
ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, victim services, economic development, water resources management, energy conservation and recreation.
