Governor awards more than $3 million to assist domestic violence victims

WINSTON COUNTY - Governor Kay Ivey has awarded grants totaling $3.03 million to agencies that provide services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, abuse and exploitation in north Alabama.
“Domestic violence too often shatters lives, leaving victims and their families in vulnerable situations,” Ivey said. “The agencies receiving these grant funds directly serve victims and their families, providing shelter and resources to recover, and raising public awareness of avenues to overcome such violence.”
Safeplace, Inc. was awarded two grants totaling $1.35 million to provide services, including shelter, a 24-hour help line, personal advocacy, emotional support, assistance navigating the criminal justice system, violence intervention and help in filing compensation claims to victims in Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Marion and Winston counties.
Victim Services of Cullman, Inc. has been awarded two grants totaling $311,677 to provide shelter and supportive services to domestic violence victims and their children in Cullman County while raising awareness of domestic, dating and family violence.
Family Resource Center of Northwest Alabama Inc., serves domestic violence victims in Walker County, and its crisis line and shelter also provide services to residents of Winston, Cullman, Blount, Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Fayette and Marion counties. It has received a grant of $150,326.
One Place of the Shoals will use its $45,534 grant to provide services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child sexual abuse and elder abuse in Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Marion and Winston counties.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering these grants from funds provided by the U.S. Department of Justice.

“Gov. Ivey and ADECA are dedicated to ensuring critical services are readily available to victims of domestic violence, no matter where they live in Alabama,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “I applaud these agencies also for their work to break the cycle of violence.”

ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, victim programs, economic development, water resource management, energy conservation and recreation.