12-Non-profit agencies requesting funding

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Detailed descriptions of project (including description of need, scope of work, methodology, who benefits, number of beneficiaries, other project partners, etc.): SAFE-T was founded in Titus Countv in 1995 to assist victims of domestic violence and sexual assault The first shelter opened in AuQUSt 1996 with fundin~z from Texas Health and Human Services Commission and later funds from the Office of the Attornev General for a Sexual Assault Program Since that time SAFE T staff and bud e~ t has ¢rown from 2 volunteers to over 24 emplovees with a startine budget of $21 000 to over $550 000/year SAFE-T now serves a population of approximately 210,000 people and a land area of 4,828 square miles The counties we serve are• Titus Camp Delta Franklin Hopkins Morris, Lamar and Red River. In the past 14 years many things have been accomplished including• renovating a dav care center into a shelter, opening Thrift stares (3) and building a 7,200 square foot Administration /Education Non-residential services center in 2005 The shelter and Mt Pleasant Thrift store are debt free and owned bv SAFE-T. The Admin office has a remaining balance of $210 000 which is reduced from profit made from the Mt. Pleasant Thrift Store. Emergencv reserve funds remain at $100.000. Approximatelv two vears ago a Qroup of citizens from Lamar County visited the SAFE-T Board and Staff in Mt. Pleasant in order to ask for assistance in providin¢ services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Lamar County. The result of the two hour discussion resulted in the opening of an office in Paris with volunteer assistance This g up of service providers and concerned citizens included: Child Protective Service, CASA, business members victims of abuse and the District Attorney's office At this time Familv Haven was providing minimal services to victims but out of respect for this a enCV SAFE-T did not advertise and remained in the background accepting referrals from the service agencies that brought it to Paris The intention originallv was to provide limited assistance to victims on a tempararv basis limitin¢ the costs of services. As the referrals increased, SAFE-T realized the need for a more permanent office that could provide longer hours of service The dilemma was funding, as Federal and State funds had been reduced far all shelters makinQ it more difficult to maintain current proQrams. In spite of the cut backs SAFE T maintainedprograms and actually increased outreach services An outreach office was opened in Hopkins County along with a Thrift Store that would help support this outreach proeram. The office inside of the Thrift Store was not the ideal situation but on a shoe string budget served both needs. This same model was used in Paris in November 2008 The Thrift Store included two offices one which is used for providing client services and the other as an office for the store This office is open from 10-6 p m Mondav-Saturdav. Store staff is trained to provide crisis intervention and other services Counseling is provided weekly to approximatelv 10 clients bv a volunteer counselor Dr. Claire Haslam SAFE T Thrift Stores not only provide an income to assist with non-Qrant expenses, but also assist clients who are in need of clothing and furnishings for housing which are accessed bv voucher. With the closing of Family Haven and other local shelters in Paris victims of domestic violence are not aware that there is an agency available for assistance SAFE-T provides shelter to victims from Lamar Countv bv transportation to Mt Pleasant This mav not be the best scenario for each client but it is the best that we can offer at the present time. We are working with the Crime Victims Counsel to develop alternate means of shelter, as well as the Department of Human Services which mav possibly approve a satellite shelter for SAFE-T next December. There are manv conditions which must be satisfied before a shelter can be opened In the meantime as we work behind the scenes for shelter services we must educate the community re au rding the services that are in place right now. We are in need of funds topav for an Outreach Advocate that would be hired from the Paris area to develop a plan to advertise these services through media PSA (Public Service Announcements) presentations to civic and church Uoups, and or ag nizin2 programs such as already in place in Mt Pleasant For example• Anger Management Proerams for men, women and teens housing assistanceprograms and legal advocacy. This Advocate would also be responsible for coordination of efforts to secure a shelter for the Paris area. These funds from the City of Paris would be used wisely for_part of a salary for the Advocate prozram supplies (printed materials files etc) and mileage (d) 40/mile to travel to Mt Pleasant to transport clients to shelter, and bring them back to Paris for court appearances and other needed appointments These are our short term goals. Our lonQ term goals includeopening or assisting with openin a shelter in Paris while developing the Non-Resident Programs at the Outreach Office. In the near future we will also need to mo e f i from the Thrift Store as more clients come M UUU-LDU