Director's Report
Submitted by Pamela Gonzalez
November 2014
The shelter has seen a steady flow of persons needing our help. We have had at least three women and five children in the shelter for the last two months.
A recap of the most recent news regarding grants was learned at a recent state workshop I attended. Our current Family Violence Prevention Services Grant funded through the State Department of Social Services Health and Human Resources funding cycle is being extended to two years. The effect will be that competition or grant monies will be extremely tough when we apply for them again in 2010.
Most shelters have increased the maximum stay to 90 days due to placement difficulties for affordable housing and jobs that provide earnings that promote self-sufficiency. This is a direct effect of the dwindling economy across the state. Due to the lack of adequate services for substance abuse and mental health clientele it is projected that domestic violence shelters will continue to see an increase in demand for services as the incidence of violence escalates in their homes.
Local Child Protective Service Agents have been mandated by the state to establish a local team to meet and plan family interventions with the families involving agencies such as ours in the planning stages, not just a referral source.
In the second week of November 2008 we at the shelter received notice from the N.C. Council for Women that the State would be reducing our already approved budget by 5%. This news comes after a delay of several months of non-payment from them. As recent as the same week however, we began to receive some of the payments we have waited so long for. Yet we are still left with the fear of not knowing when or if our next allotments will be received on time. The funds that were sent so far were used to catch up on operating expenses incurred since July.
Fundraising efforts have been productive for the last two months. The Bee Hive Stores hosted a gas card drawing and the prizes were two $25 gas cards. One winner from each Bee Hive location was drawn. Brittany Smith promoted "The Motorcycle Ride" event, sponsored by Clinton High School which was very successful providing $350 to our shelter. The riders donated childrens toys for this year's Christmas.
