Safe Housing Grants Give Families a Second Chance for a Brighter Future
Sacramento, CA – RedRover©, a national animal welfare organization, announces its latest recipients for Safe Housing grants. Through the Safe Housing program, RedRover will distribute more than $49,000 in funding to five domestic violence shelters across the United States, enabling the shelters to create on-site space to house pets.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, more than 70 percent of pet-owning women entering domestic violence shelters reported that their batterer had injured, killed or threatened family pets out of revenge or to exert psychological control. Up to 48 percent of domestic violence victims are unable to escape their abusers because they fear what will happen to their pets when they leave.
Nicole Forsyth, RedRover President & CEO, states:
“RedRover is happy that we can expand this program and now award grants up to $20,000, up from $6,000. It’s crucial that every domestic violence survivor has access to a pet-friendly shelter in their state; it can truly be a matter of life or death if they do not.”
Since 2010, RedRover has awarded $287,500 in grants through the Safe Housing program, keeping thousands of families and pets together. The following domestic violence shelters received Safe Housing grant awards during this application period:
- Arising Hope – Eastlake, CO – $6,000
- HEAL, Inc. & The Nest – Ruidoso Downs, NM – $5,280
- Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence – Decatur, GA – $4,600
- Alternatives Incorporated – Anderson, IN – $17,300
- Willow Domestic Violence Center – Rochester, NY- $16,600
According to Sheltering Animals and Families Together (SAF-T), only a fraction of domestic violence shelters in the United States house animals onsite. RedRover is partnering with SAF-T to work toward the goal of having at least one pet-friendly shelter in each state. Shelters in the following states do NOT house pets onsite and are encouraged to apply for Safe Housing grants: Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and West Virginia.
Deadlines to apply for Safe Housing grants are May 15 and October 15 each year. To learn more, visit https://redrover.org/SafeHousing.
