Grants & Direct Services

  National Coalition Grant Program

The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program has provided the NNEDV Fund with a significant grant to help develop key program elements. In September 2005, it awarded grants to five domestic violence coalitions to collaborate with local programs to support the immediate and long-term economic needs of domestic abuse survivors. The five domestic violence coalitions include: Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, New York and Washington. In total, $650,000 in grants was awarded to domestic violence organizations in 2005.

 

Georgia

The Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence (GCADV) was founded in 1992. Its mission is to support member programs in achieving safety and justice for domestic violence victims. The coalition provides services to programs in all Georgia’s counties by linking domestic violence shelters and programs and providing a collective voice for victims. It also provides a 24–hour toll–free hotline and services for providers.

Funds from The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program help the coalition develop its Ways to Work program for participants in the coalition’s transitional housing program. The Ways to Work program provides transportation options to enhance the ability of their participants to access the metro Atlanta job market and to better provide for the needs of their families.

The program provides partial down payments on reliable, low–cost used cars for clients who currently have no vehicles, as well as partial monthly payments. The grant also pays for car repairs for five clients. In addition, the grant partially pays for maintenance, insurance and gas for all the clients’ vehicles – to ensure ongoing access to reliable, fully insured transportation.

The GCADV is spending approximately $45,000 on partial costs of the following items: down payments and monthly payments on vehicles, maintenance and repair costs, fuel costs and insurance premiums. The remaining portion of the grant covers training and administrative costs.

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Louisiana

The Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (LCADV) is a statewide network of 20 battered women’s programs, other organizations and individuals who share the goal of ending violence against women and children in Louisiana. LCADV empowers its members through advocacy, education, resource development and technical assistance. In 1982, LCADV was incorporated as a private, non–profit corporation and in 1986 received 501(c)(3) tax–exempt status by the IRS.

Funds from The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program provide life–sustaining support to victims displaced by Hurricane Katrina in Orleans (New Orleans), St. James, St. Charles, St. John, St. Tammany, St. Bernard, Plaquemines and Tangipahoa parishes. Support includes financial assistance and economic education on financial rebuilding:

• Relocation funds
• Down payments/security deposits for houses and apartments
• Utility security deposits
• First month’s rent
• Financial education
• Financial training

The LCADV is spending approximately $36,000 on financial assistance to domestic violence survivors. The remaining $14,000 will be used for training, coordination and implementation of the project.

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Michigan

The Michigan Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence is a statewide membership organization whose members represent a network of more than 200 allied organizations and individuals. It has provided leadership as the statewide voice for survivors of domestic and sexual violence and the programs that serve them since 1978. Its mission is to develop and promote efforts aimed at the elimination of all domestic and sexual violence in Michigan.

Funds from The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program support the Survivors Giving Circle in two pilot counties in Michigan. The goal of the Survivors Giving Circle is to increase the economic security of survivors of domestic violence by awarding loans to survivors facing barriers to justice and safety. Loans are made directly to survivors in amounts up to $2,000. The program serves approximately 20 survivors.

The coalition is also partnering with AWARE, Inc. and SIREN/Eaton Shelter, Inc. on the program. These organizations provide transitional and supportive housing for domestic violence survivors.

The coalition is spending approximately $40,000 on grants and loans to survivors via AWARE/SIREN. The remaining grant monies are allocated for advisor fees that provide development, training and support for the Survivors Giving Circle leadership staff.

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New York

The New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence has been a driving force behind the development of more than 100 domestic violence programs throughout New York State since 1978. These programs provide services to victims of domestic violence through community outreach, education, training, technical assistance and policy development.

The coalition provides services for a diverse population, including large metropolitan areas, suburban communities and rural counties.

Funds from The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program are helping the coalition partner with three local domestic violence programs to work with immigrant survivors: Circulo de la Hispanidad, Vera House and Victim Resource Center of the Finger Lakes. The goal of this partnership is three-fold:

• Provide emergency assistance funding
• Forge economic empowerment strategies with local domestic violence programs throughout the state
• Enhance and strengthen collaborative relationships between partnering programs and local and regional organizations to further economic empowerment goals on a broader scale

Each program received approximately $15,000 to implement an economic empowerment curriculum with the following components: economic self-sufficiency, financial management, resource materials, economic restoration/justice, crisis advocacy and celebrations. The coalition retained the remaining $5,000 to administer technical support for participating programs.

Circulo de la Hispanidad
A small program offering personalized service in the metropolitan area surrounding New York City. Funding from The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program grant serves 20 survivors, including Hispanic immigrants and others with limited English proficiency.

Vera House
A large program located in a mid-sized metropolitan area in upstate New York surrounded by suburban communities and rural areas. Funding from The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program grant serves 100 survivors, including immigrant and refugee populations, through a partnership with the local Spanish Action League and local refugee programs.

Victim Resource Center of the Finger Lakes
A small program providing, among other services, intense advocacy for migrant farm workers throughout a 15 county region of rural upstate New York. Twenty percent of those served include women of color. Program participants also include disabled individuals.

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Washington

The Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence was founded in 1990. Its members include 64 shelters and victim advocacy programs. Its mission is to end domestic violence through advocacy and action for social change. Work includes training, technical assistance, public policy advocacy, research, publications and educational tools. The coalition leads an economic justice project, a disabilities/domestic violence advocacy project and a technology safety and access project. In addition, it is working with the Seattle Mariners on a “Refuse to Abuse ” campaign.

Funds from The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program help the coalition develop and enhance programs for four local domestic violence programs. These programs provide targeted economic justice services based on community needs, such as home and vehicle ownership programs, financial literacy training, and individual development accounts.

• Forks Abuse Program (Forks, Wash.): The funds assist clients in making informed decisions regarding their financial and housing needs. Funding provides opportunities to 100 percent of adult clientele, approximately 225 individuals.
• YWCA of South King County (Renton, Wash.): Funding provides creative support and incentives to 70 to 90 adult victims of domestic violence currently attending economic literacy classes in five weekly groups.
• Family Resource Center (Davenport, Wash.): The funds empower domestic violence victims to become self–sufficient homeowners through education and hands on experiences. This program serves approximately 20 survivors.
• Alternatives to Domestic Violence (Spokane, Wash.): Funding ensures the safety and well being of domestic violence survivors by helping them become financially independent through counseling and financial literacy sessions.

Approximately $45,000 is divided among the partner organizations listed above. The YWCA, Family Resource Center and the Alternatives to Domestic Violence uses a portion of the funds to provide matches to savings and/or individual development accounts. The coalition is also spending approximately $5,000 to implement statewide financial-literacy training.

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