PROVIDENCE – Sojourner House will receive a $255,000 grant, from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women, to expand its transitional housing program for victims of domestic violence.
“Sojourner House is fortunate to be able to bridge the gap between shelter and permanent housing for mothers and their children who are victims of domestic violence,” said Karen Allen, the nonprofit’s executive director, who was joined in announcing the grant by Judith Earle, president of the board of directors of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and U.S. Sen. Jack Reed.
“Without transitional housing, many families would be homeless or forced to return to their abuser because they have no other option. This funding allows us the time to meet the needs of the families and assist in their stabilization,” Allen said.
“For over 30 years,” Reed said, “Sojourner House has been making a difference and providing shelter to victims of domestic violence … helping thousands of women and families throughout Rhode Island.” The senator is a member of the Appropriations subcommittee that oversees funding for the Office on Violence Against Women and was a co-sponsor of the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization bill signed into law last year.
Since 1976, the local agency has assisted more than 50,000 individuals. Besides emergency support, Sojourner House provides shelter, counseling and legal advocacy, and also offers a variety of community education and awareness programs. Today, it is one of six member agencies of the statewide domestic violence coalition.
“This federal investment will allow Sojourner House to expand its transitional housing program to help victims – many of whom are women and children – move beyond emergency shelter and find permanent housing,” Reed said.
Sojourner House is one of six member agencies of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, an alliance whose services for families affected by domestic violence include an emergency safe house, a 24-hour help line, court advocacy, counseling, support groups, children’s programs, and community outreach, awareness and prevention programs. Additional information is available at www.ricadv.org.
