The YWCA of Metropolitan Detroit Interim House is the largest state-approved domestic violence shelter in Michigan. Wednesday, it received a grant from the DTE Foundation, along with 43 other domestic violence shelters across the state, totaling $400,000, in recognition of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
The money will be allocated by the number of beds each shelter has and can be used for everything from day-to-day operations, to help provide programming or support services for survivors of domestic violence as they try to establish lives away from their abusers. YWCA of Metropolitan Detroit Interim House has 67 beds and will receive the largest grant. The minimum amount awarded will be $5,000.
DTE Energy Foundation president Lynette Dowler, DTE Electric president and board member of the DTE Foundation, Trevor Lauer and Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist announced the gift at the YWCA of Metropolitan Detroit Interim House.
“These grants will help thousands of people fleeing from violence, including more than 5,000 children, with both emergency housing and support services to help rebuild their lives,” said Lauer. “Survivors often arrive at shelters having been isolated both socially and financially, leaving them without a safety net. The grants will help provide critical services from finding employment and permanent housing to opening a bank account. Equally important, these programs help survivors navigate what can be a very complex criminal justice system.”
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious, preventable public health problem that affects millions of Americans. The term “intimate partner violence” describes physical violence, sexual violence, stalking, or psychological harm by a current or former partner or spouse. This type of violence can occur among heterosexual or same-sex couples and does not require sexual intimacy.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, intimate partner violence affects about 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men, leading to stalking, physical violence, rape, and even homicide. In Michigan, more than 2,600 survivors may require some form of assistance on a given day.
YWCA of Metropolitan Detroit Interim House executive director, Emma Peterson, deals with stories of domestic violence on a daily. Her center has 20 women and 42 children, and said the money will be put to good use there.
“We provide a number of services here at YWCA of Metropolitan Detroit Interim House and the money will be used to expand those services, in terms of providing transportation for women who may not have the means and any of our other client services,” said Peterson. “The types of services that our clients need today are different from what they needed years ago, and we want to make sure we address our clients as a whole.”
Gilchrist, who said he was a YWCA child, applauded DTE Foundation’s support for domestic violence victims.
“Michigan has been a leader in working to end domestic violence, but there is still much more we need to achieve to ensure the safety of our state’s citizens,” he said. “We are fortunate to have generous philanthropic partners in our state who help us address some of our most challenging societal issues. This DTE Foundation grant will support statewide non-profits so they can provide emergency shelter to domestic violence victims and help these survivors along the journey of rebuilding their lives.”
In addition to the $400,000 in grants, the DTE Energy Foundation is also partnering with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to host training sessions for employees at the state’s domestic violence shelters, too, so that they can learn new skills and build more sustainable financial models.
If you or someone you know is being abused, the National Domestic Violence Hotline also has a toll-free 24-hour crisis line: 800-799-7233.
The shelters eligible for grant funding are:
- Family Counseling and Children’s Services, Adrian
- Hope Shores Alliance, Alpena
- SafeHouse Center, Ann Arbor
- A.F.E. Place, Battle Creek
- Bay Area Women’s Center, Bay City
- Children and Family Services of Southwestern Michigan/Safe Shelter, Benton Harbor
- Women’s Information Service, Inc., Big Rapids
- Cadillac Area O.A.S.I.S, Cadillac
- Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter, Calumet
- HDC/Thumb Area Assault Crisis Center, Caro
- Brand County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Coldwater
- YWCA of Metropolitan Detroit/Interim House, Detroit
- Tri County Safe Harbor, Escanaba
- YWCA of Greater Flint/SAFE House, Flint
- YWCA of West Central Michigan, Grand Rapids
- River House, Grayling
- Domestic Harmony, Hillsdale
- Center for Women in Transition, Holland
- LACASA, Howell
- RAVE, Ionia
- Caring House Inc., Iron Mountain
- DOVE, Ironwood
- AWARE, Jackson
- YWCA of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo
- Baraga County Shelter Home, L’Anse
- End Violent Encounters (EVE), Lansing
- Lapeer Area Citizens Against Domestic Assault, Lapeer
- Communities Overcoming Violent Encounters, Ludington
- CHOICES of Manistee County, Manistee
- Women’s Center/Harbor House, Marquette
- Shelterhouse/Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Midland
- Family Counseling and Shelter Services of Monroe County, Monroe
- Turning Point, Mt. Clemens
- Women’s Aid Service, Mt. Pleasant
- Every Women’s Place, Muskegon
- Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan, Petoskey
- First Step, Plymouth/Wayne
- HAVEN, Pontiac
- Blue Water Safe Horizons, Port Huron
- Underground Railroad, Saginaw
- Diane Peppler Resource Center, Sault Ste. Marie
- SafeCenter, St. Johns/Owosso
- Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services, Three Rivers
- Women’s Resource Center Grand Traverse Area, Traverse City
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