Catholic Charities’ My Sisters’ Place receives $20,000 Season for Sharing Grant

Funds used to provide shelter and services to women and their children who are fleeing domestic violence

PHOENIX (June 19, 2012) ─ Catholic Charities Community Services received a $20,000 grant from The Arizona Republic/12 News’ Season for Sharing campaign. The funds will help Catholic Charities continue to provide shelter and services through its My Sisters’ Place and Pathways programs for victims of domestic violence.

Recent economic conditions have created “the perfect storm” for victims of domestic violence. According to the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence, state and local funding crises have drastically decreased the funding to assist victims, while economic stressors have increased the severity and incidence of family violence. The situation is compounded because women in shelter are unable to find jobs or affordable housing, which lengthens their shelter stays at a time when there is an increase in demand.

“In these economic times, support from the community becomes even more important,” said Rose Gomes, director of domestic violence programs at Catholic Charities. “We are very grateful to benefit from the Season for Sharing campaign. This generous grant will allow us to continue to provide services to women and their children who are fleeing domestic violence.”

My Sisters' Place opened in 1985 and provides residential shelter and counseling for up to 120 days. It is one of only two confidential domestic violence shelters in the East Valley.

In addition to shelter, services include counseling, safety planning, case management, court accompaniment, life skills training, linkages to community resources, and legal advocacy.

Pathways provides the above services, transitional housing and support to women who are transitioning to independence once they’ve left the shelter or are in need of services, but have a safe place to stay, such as with friends or family members.

Season for Sharing is a campaign in partnership with The Arizona Republic, 12 News and azcentral.com’s readers and viewers to support nonprofit agencies that help at-risk children and families, improve education and aid victims of domestic violence.

The 2011-2012 Season for Sharing campaign generated $2.66 million, including $400,000 in matching grants from the Gannett Foundation and its community partner, The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Nearly $49 million has been distributed to worthy agencies since Season for Sharing began in 1993.

SIDE BAR:

Am I Being Abused?

Are you in an abusive relationship? Abuse takes many forms, including control, isolation, physical, emotional, financial, sexual and verbal. Take this quick quiz* to test your relationship:

Does your partner:

• Put you down or call you names?
• Behave in ways that scare you?
• Control what you do and where you go?
• Prevent you from seeing family and friends?
• Take your money or important documents, make you ask for money or refuse to give you money?
• Call you bad parent and threaten to take away or hurt your children or pets?
• Make all the decisions?
• Destroy your property?
• Threaten to commit suicide or to kill you?
•  

If you answered “yes” to even one of these questions, you may be in an abusive relationship. To talk to someone about your relationship, please call the My Sisters’ Place 24-hour help line, 480.821.1024.

*Source:  Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence

About Catholic Charities Community Services

Catholic Charities Community Services helps our community's most vulnerable with solutions that permanently improve lives. We help people of all faiths, backgrounds and abilities. Last year, we touched 90,715 lives in Central and Northern Arizona. We are accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Children and Family Services and are a member organization of Catholic Charities USA. To learn more visit CatholicCharitiesAZ.org.

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