Funds help domestic violence victims

It was announced last Friday that the Allstate Foundation has partnered with the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) to establish the Education and Job Training Assistance Fund.

“Focusing on the area of economic justice for women experiencing violence in their lives is paramount. Women don’t leave violent relationships because oftentimes they don’t have the means, education or training to start a new life,” said, Michele McKeon, Executive Director of Orange County Safe Homes.

“More than 1.35 million American women seek domestic violence services each year,” said Senator William Larkin. “They deserve all the credit in the world for bravely trying to put the pieces of their lives back together. This is why organizations such as the National Network to End Domestic Violence are so important. The group’s Education and Job Training Assistance Fund will help so many women gain the knowledge and skills they need to achieve economic self-sufficiency while they work on healing their past.”
The Fund gives small grants to survivors of domestic violence to help them reach their educational and career goals. The grants help survivors obtain professional licenses, workforce tools and job training.

Funding may be put toward needs such as tuition; books and supplies for school; job skills training; licensing fees; registration fees; public transportation; rental fees for computer time at computer centers; or temporary child care so that the applicant can attend school, take a class or look for employment.

“I applaud Allstate for their national efforts. It’s my hope that Sen. Larkin will seize this opportunity to provide funding to assist victims of domestic violence from Orange County,” McKeon said.

Eight women have been murdered in Orange County over the last 2 years. “We need the assistance from our entire community to make sure that number does not continue to rise,” McKeon said. She looks forward to working with Senator Larkin to secure funding for victims of domestic violence on a local level.

Any survivor of domestic violence is eligible to apply. The only requirement of the Fund is that the application be completed by a local domestic violence program or domestic violence coalition. The programs or coalitions must contact the NNEDV Fund to request an “Education and Job Training Fund” application form.

Currently, $75,000 has been committed to the Fund and there are plans for additional funding in the future. Survivors can receive up to
$1,000 in grants. There is no deadline for application. You can reach Safe Homes at (845) 562-5365 or their 24 hour hotline at 1-888-503-HOPE.