Decreased funding from federal Victims of Crime Act, or VOCA, could be devastating to the local nonprofits serving survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse.
Tag: domestic violence
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Pisgah Legal Services Executive Director Jim Barrett’s exit interview
Barrett spoke with Xpress about how he has avoided burnout, his advice to young lawyers and North Carolina’s problem with “legal deserts.”
New kennel will help families affected by domestic violence
The survivor of a violent relationship has difficult decisions to make. She has to figure out when it is safest to leave, where she can go, what she can bring and what she can’t. Sometimes she’s stopped cold when she realizes she might have to leave the dog behind.
Fighting sex trafficking takes multipronged approach
Sex trafficking doesn’t look like the plot of the 2008 film “Taken” starring Liam Neeson as a father who dramatically rescues his daughter from Albanian gangsters.
Sunrise Recovery opens drop-in center
During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21, the organization saw 14,000 peer interactions. In 2022, its peer interactions more than doubled to 33,000.
Commissioners to hear domestic violence update Jan. 17
The annual report and accompanying presentation were created by Buncombe’s Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team, which was formed in 2018 to prevent domestic violence deaths in the county.
Domestic violence nonprofit opens new Hendersonville facility
Safelight, a Hendersonville nonprofit that supports survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new facility June 29.
From CPP: New domestic violence shelter gets boost from ARPA funds
Jackson County, home to Western Carolina University, has no domestic violence shelter, but efforts to combine federal dollars and other funding are working to change that.
Anti-domestic violence org teaches healthy relationships to teens
“Healthy relationships are the best protector against abusive relationships,” says Chaka-Khan Gordon of Helpmate, an Asheville nonprofit providing services and support for survivors of domestic violence.
Wellness roundup: Local domestic, sexual violence nonprofits lose funding; Dogwood invests $25M into Pisgah Fund
State funding for local domestic, sexual violence nonprofits to end Sept. 30 The N.C. Governor’s Crime Commission informed four WNC nonprofits on June 16 of the discontinuance of nearly $2.3 million in grant funding previously available through the Victims of Crime Act and the Violence Against Women Act. Existing VOCA and VAWA grants are scheduled […]
Local domestic, sexual violence rise during pandemic
For many, Gov. Roy Cooper’s stay-at-home order was a protective measure to keep the community safe from COVID-19. But for others, home isn’t safe: If someone is trapped in close quarters with an abuser, social distancing becomes incredibly dangerous. With no end to the pandemic in sight, local organizations are preparing for a rise in domestic and sexual violence despite their limited resources.
Snap Judgement
ASHEVILLE, N.C.
Grant will fund community-wide violence prevention efforts
Partner organizations are moving forward to implement a multi-year plan aimed at preventing violence against women and maltreatment of children. The effort is funded by an unprecedented $450,000 grant from the Women for Women Giving Circle of the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina.
Buncombe County to select interim manager, finalize budget
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners will vote Tuesday, June 19, on a resolution appointing a new interim county manager after last week’s sudden announcement that County Manager Mandy Stone would be departing. The board will also render a final decision about the county’s FY 2019 budget, which includes a bump in education spending.
Report shines light on Asheville’s hunger, homelessness problems
Last week, the U.S. Conference of Mayors released an in-depth report examining the hunger and homelessness situations in 25 cities across the country, including Asheville. The report found that the city has serious issues with low wages, unaffordable housing, poverty, and the number of domestic violence survivors who end up homeless. Increases in homelessness are modest, but more families are homeless. The report also highlighted some local organizations doing “exemplary” work on the issues but predicted that coming social service cuts could make the situations on both fronts more dire.
Cuts threaten to end legal help for 2,200 domestic violence victims
A $330,000 reduction in Pisgah Legal Services’ state and federal funding could leave more than 2,200 local domestic-violence victims without legal assistance. The Asheville-based nonprofit is scrambling to close the gap but may reduce services.
Breaking the silence: Health care reform provides free domestic-violence screening
Thanks to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, most women can now have conversations about domestic violence with their doctor without having to worry about the cost. Effective Aug. 1, domestic-violence screening is one of eight free preventive services for women. Domestic violence survivor Sharone Owen shares her story about how one conversation with her doctor may have saved her life. (photo by Caitlin Byrd)
Pisgah Legal offers five ideas for “putting a dent in poverty in 2012”
In response to Xpress’ request for big ideas for 2012 from around the community, the team at Pisgah Legal, a local non-profit that offers aid and advocacy for low-income residents, offered five ideas for “putting a dent in poverty in 2012.”
APD releases details of SWAT team standoff
Yesterday, a short video made the rounds of an Asheville Police Department SWAT team firing into an apartment and advancing. Now the APD has released details of the standoff with Erich Shakir, who police claim barricaded himself inside a North Asheville apartment filled with “a large arsenal of knives, compound bows, dart guns, and battle axes” after fleeing a domestic violence charge. According to the APD’s statement, Shakir was subdued using non-lethal methods, including tear gas and a bean-bag round.
Thank you Jerry Sternberg
I would like to thank [frequent Mountain Xpress Commentary contributor] Jerry Sternberg for bringing the subject of domestic violence to the attention of Xpress readers by offering the proceeds from his book, The Gospel According to Jerry, to Helpmate, the local nonprofit agency providing shelter for [domestic-violence] victims and their children, a 24-hour hotline, counseling, […]
Helpmate needs help
Thanks to Jerry Sternberg for donating the proceeds from his 80th birthday edition of The Gospel According to Jerry to Helpmate. It is with the support of a generous community that Helpmate has been able to provide services to victims and survivors of domestic violence in Buncombe County for over 30 years. Helpmate provides emergency […]