Sacramento, CA (July 31, 2019) – RedRover has awarded more than $245,000 in grant funds to 16 domestic violence shelters nationwide during the first grant cycle this year. These Safe Housing grants enable the shelters to create on- and off-site space to house pets through RedRover’s Safe Housing program. Of the 16 grants awarded, four are RedRover + Purina Purple Leash Project grants, an extension of RedRover’s Safe Housing program. These grants allow shelters to build on-site housing for pets.
Roughly only 10 percent of the domestic violence shelters in the United States house animals onsite in some capacity. Out of the 183 domestic violence shelters that do or will soon house pets, RedRover has provided 99 grants to assist their efforts over the last six years.
RedRover President & CEO Nicole Forsyth states, “Domestic violence survivors too often delay leaving abusers because they are fearful of leaving their pet behind. Our Safe Housing and Purple Leash Project grants remove that barrier and enable survivors to escape abuse with their pets so that they can begin their healing process together.”
The following shelters received Safe Housing grants during this application period:
- Sojourner Center – Maricopa County, AZ $12,000 (second-time recipient)
- Abused Adult Resource Center – Burleigh County, ND, $5,000
- Friends of the Family – Black Hawk County, IO, $5,505
- YWCA West Central Michigan – Kent County, MI, $20,000
- Center for Hope and Safety – Marion County, OR, $20,000
- The Spring of Tampa Bay – Hillsborough County, FL, $20,000
- Southside Center for Violence Prevention, Inc. – Cumberland County, VA, $16,605
- Women’s Crisis Center – Boone County, KY, $20,000
- Converse Hope Center – Converse County, WY, $6,500
- Newhouse Shelter – Jackson County, MO, $20,000
- Hubbard House – Duval County, FL, $20,000
- Family Assistance Program – San Bernardino County, CA, $5,000
The following shelters received Purple Leash Project grants this year:
- Refuge House – Leon County, FL $30,000
- Family Violence Prevention Service – Bexar County, TX, $20,000
- Hope Haven of Cass County – Cass County, MO, $7,270 (second-time recipient)
- Lydia’s House – St. Louis County, MO, $17,120
According to research conducted by Dr. Frank Ascione, as many as 71 percent of pet-owning women entering domestic violence shelters report their abuser injured, killed or threatened family pets for revenge or psychological control, and up to 48 percent of domestic violence victims reported delaying leaving their abusers because they feared what would happen to their pets.
“Providing care, support and a safe place for families impacted by power-based personal violence is at the heart of what we do at Women’s Crisis Center (WCC),” said Christy Burch, executive director of WCC. “With the help of RedRover we are able to provide an on-site kennel that will change our families lives and provide holistic trauma informed care. We are grateful and energized by the support of RedRover!”
RedRover and Purina are working towards the goal of having at least one pet-friendly domestic violence shelter in each state. Currently, Hawaii, Maine, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and West Virginia shelters have NO pet-friendly domestic violence shelters. We strongly encourage the shelters in these states to apply for Safe Housing grants. For a complete list of RedRover programs to help domestic violence victims escape their abusive situation with their pets, visit redrover.org/relief.
Deadlines to apply for Safe Housing and Purple Leash Project grants are May 15 and October 15 each year. To learn more, visit: https://redrover.org/SafeHousing.
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About RedRover
Since 1987, RedRover has focused on bringing animals out of crisis and strengthening the human-animal bond through emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance and education. Since 2012, RedRover has given 99 Safe Housing grants to domestic violence shelters in 36 states, totaling nearly $850.000. For the fourth consecutive year, RedRover has earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. To learn how RedRover is creating a more compassionate world, visit RedRover.org.
Contact:
Sheri Madsen
916.429.2457 ext. 310
916.600.8157 cell
smadsen@redrover.org