11-Hear and deliberate on presentations from non-profit organizations requesting funding

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Detailed descrlpflons of project (inclading description of aeed, scope of wrork, methodolog,y, who benefita, number of bene5ciaries, other projeet psrtners, etc.): SAFUT was founded in Titus County in 1995 to assi_st victims of domestic violence and sexual assanlt. The 6rst shelber opsw¢ in August 1996 with funding from Texas Heahh and Human Services Commission, and later funds from the Office of flie Attarney General for a Sexual Assauk Program. Since that time._SAFE-T staff and budget has grown fiom 2 volunteers ta ovar 24 employees with a sYartintt budget of $21,0(}0 to over $850.000/vear. In the gast 15 xears many things have been ac+eomFlished including: renovating a day care cetrter into a shelter, openi.ng Thrift stores (3) and btulding a 7.200 square foot Admnusuation /Education Non-resideirtial services center in 2005. The shelter and Mt. Pleasant Thri.ft s#ore are debt free and owned by SAFE-T. The Admin offiee has a remain,ing balance of 5190.000 wluch is reduced from profit made from the ML Pleasant Thrift Store. Emergencv reserve funds remain af $100,000. imat* three years ago, a group of citims from Lamar County visited the SAFE-T Board and Staff in Mt Aonax Pleasant in order to ask for assistance in vroviding services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Lamar County. The result of the two hour discussion resulted in the opening, af an office in Peris witb volunteer assistanca. This group of service providers and concerned citizens included: Child Protective Service, CASA, business members, victims of abuse, and the Dishict Attorney's office. At this time Family Haven was providinp~minimal services to victirm but out of respect for this agency, SAFE-T did not advertise and remained in the bac ound accepting refeirais from the service aeencies that brought it to Paris. The inteution originally was to provide limited assistance to victims on a temporary basis, limiting the costs of serviees. As the referrals increased, SAFE-T reaiized the need for a more,permanent office thst could provide longer hours of service. The dilemma was fundiny, as Federal and S#ate funds hd bcen reduced for all shelters making it more difficult ta maintain cutrent programs. In spite of the cut backs. SAFE-T maintaineri programs and actually inereased outreach services. In November 2008, a Thrift Store was opened in Paris which included two offices, one which was used far providing client services and the other as an office for the store. When the store moved to gnother location, the office again moved and is currently located within the Paris Housing Authority complezc at 615 Ninth SW. Couoseling is provided weekly to approximately 45 cIients by Dr. Ctaire Haslam. SAFE-T Thrift Stores not only,provide an income to assist with non-grant Menses, but also assist clients who are in need of clothing and furnishin{r,s for hoasing which are aceessed by voucher. Victims of domestic violenee are still not aware that there is an agency available for assistance. SAFE-T pmvides shelter to victims from Lamax County by tirranspor#ation to Mt Pleasant. This maX not be the best scenario for each client bu# it is the best that we can o$'er at the.present tia. WepU the cost of a motel fa these clients that we cannot transnort that night. We must educate the community re raud'uig the services that are in place right now. We are in need of funds to help pay for an Outreach Advocate that would be hired from the Paris area to devalop a plau to advertise these services through media. PSA (Public Service Announcements), prWnWions to civic and chtuch gaoups. and or ag n~g programs such as already in place in Mt. Pleasant For example: Anger Management Pro umms far men, women and teens, housing assistance programs, and leg,al advocacy. SAFE-T was awatded a large housing grant last September for two vears of $538,000 which pays hausing assistance costs of dgposits, rent and ufilities for families. We have two staff hired under this grag that provides these services and we have bcen seeing~over 25 families each month who are in the housing rnogaam and an additionat 40 who are receiving~other services. We also were awarded a Crisis Response Team grant that allows us to ga to a victim's house when law enforcement have been cal(ed for a domestic violence eall= We provide advocacv on srte. These funds from the City of Paris would be used w~I far Qart of a salar,y for the Advocate, program sagplies (prin~ materials, files, etcj and mileage Q) .40/mile to travel to Mx. Pleasant Yo transport clients to shelter, and bring them back to Paris fnr court Wearances and other needed In 2009, SAFE-T provided serviees to a,pt>roxirr►ately 73 clients from Lamar County. We estimate that in 2010 tiiat number will increase to over 6001. We cUrrently have two Paris residents in the shelber which can hold 30 people. There are six bedrooms with bunk beds in each mom. We can add cn'bs or pallets for children when nasded= Lastyear we added one bedroom to accammQdate the number of .102