BOISE, Idaho — The J.R. Simplot Company has awarded the Woman's and Children's Alliance (WCA) a $10,000 grant, which will support emergency and transitional services and other critical programming for those living in the shelters. The funding will provide opportunities for safety, healing and freedom to women and children in our community.
During the last fiscal year, the WCA provided 11,132 "safe bed nights". While in residence, these individuals had the opportunity to participate in the WCA's direct victim services array of program components. The programs are designed to encourage self-reliance, enhance self-regard and to promote independence and personal safety.
For many domestic violence victims, leaving means they may not be able to find safe housing immediately or feed their children and keep them safe. The National Coalition for the Homeless notes a woman is 70 times more likely to be murdered in the few weeks after leaving her abusive partner than at any other time in the relationship. In times like we are facing – an unprecedented global health pandemic, domestic violence rates are rising globally and locally.
“We are grateful for the ongoing support from the J.R. Simplot Company.,” said Bev La Chance, WCA Grant Director, “We are continuing to see increasing numbers of community members asking for help, with increasing numbers of emergency intakes into shelter – meaning the danger is high and it is real.”
Essential WCA program staff members are on-site at the secure domestic violence shelter campus, in the childcare center and at both the Ada County Courthouse and the WCA Crisis center to help with protection orders and facilitate safety planning sessions. Clinical and case management staff are providing their services virtually.
The WCA offers safe shelter, two 24-hotlines, counseling and support groups, court advocacy, financial empowerment and a variety of other integrated services and programs to women, men and children victimized by abuse. For more information on the WCA and the help they can provide, click here.
