Domestic-violence shelter receives $15K grant
A $15,000 grant from the Blue Shield of California Foundation will support the domestic-violence program at the YWCA of Glendale, which serves thousands of victims each year who contact the Y for resources including therapy, help finding a new place to live or new clothes for themselves or their children.
“A lot of people that come to our shelter, they’re leaving an emergency situation, and they don’t have anything,” said Andrea Williams, director of development for the YWCA of Glendale.
The organization also provides legal support, financial guidance and training for job interviews.
During the past fiscal year, the YWCA temporarily housed about 50 women and 50 children at its emergency shelter, an undisclosed location that provides room for up to 10 people at a time.
While some stay at the shelter for as little as a couple of weeks, others stay for the entire 45-day period that’s permitted.
“A case manager and staff will work with clients to help them find permanent or transitional housing,” Williams said.
Several hundred more domestic-violence victims participated in services hosted at the YWCA, such as therapy. In addition, more than 1,000 people called the facility’s 24-hour hotline to inquire about the YWCA’s temporary shelter or services.
The Blue Shield of California Foundation gave the $15,000 grant to the YWCA to use any way that the Y’s staff sees fit, as part of the foundation’s ongoing effort to offer unrestricted funds to providers.
“It’s so helpful to be able to use the money in the best way possible,” Williams said.
The donation is part of Blue Shield’s “Against Violence Core Support” initiative to support domestic-violence survivors as they carve out a new path — a life without abuse.
“Domestic violence can happen to anyone, and impacts everyone,” said Peter Long, president and chief executive of the Blue Shield of California Foundation, in a statement. “YWCA Glendale is making our communities safer and healthier every single day, and we remain committed to ensuring that they — and the entire field — have the resources and adaptability to support survivors and bring us closer to ending domestic violence in California.”
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Kelly Corrigan, kelly.corrigan@latimes.com
Twitter: @kellymcorrigan
