First OVW Transitional Housing Grant Given to SHAWL House in LA
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder traveled to LA on July 16 to deliver exciting news: SHAWL House (a program of Volunteers of America of Los Angeles) was awarded the first grant under the Office on Violence Against Women's Transitional Housing Assistance Program.
Most shelters offer emergency housing on a short-term basis (often 3 months or less, although some stays can be extended). Transitional housing usually lasts from 6 months to 2 years. It is designed to bridge a survivor’s transition from emergency housing to self-sufficiency and empowerment.
In his remarks, Holder emphasized the need for transitional housing by highlighting one of SHAWL House's clients:
“Every woman who relies upon the SHAWL House has a compelling story to tell. I want to share with you just one story – the story of a woman named Gabby. Gabby grew up in a household with a father who was abusive and addicted to drugs and three siblings who were also heavy drug users. She found herself in trouble from an early age – involved in abusive relationships and using drugs herself. After losing her four children and eventually winding up on the streets, Gabby turned to SHAWL House. Gabby has now been clean for five months, and she is a proud graduate of the SHAWL House Transition Housing Program. Gabby’s path forward will not be easy. She will have to work hard every day to stay clean and to continue rebuilding her life. But because of her courage and the support she received from the caring people who run the SHAWL House, Gabby has a chance at a new start and hope for a bright future.
Women all across America are faced with the kind of impossible choices that Gabby faced – often between homelessness and life with an abusive partner. Transitional housing assistance programs help bridge a gap between emergency shelter and permanent housing for victims and their families. Providing viable temporary housing options and services that promote self-sufficiency are critical and proven steps toward violence-free lives.”
SHAWL House provides a safe haven for female survivors of domestic violence, substance abuse, and mental illness with transitional housing, counseling, domestic violence education, and other support services, including education and job skills to help them move towards an empowered independence. Funds for the Transitional Housing Assistance Program were provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
