Photo credit: Akron Beacon Journal
The month of February offered a significant amount of public attention for the Battered Women’s Shelter, and at its height was a visit from Dr. Ben Carson, Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Each year HUD provides funding for thousands of transitional, homeless prevention, and rapid re-housing programs aimed at helping those who need it most. In 2019, HUD made domestic violence a priority and designated special funding to help launch new programs across the US. The Battered Women’s Shelter was granted a portion of these funds to assist not only survivors in Summit County but also survivors in rural counties across Ohio. We were honored to have Secretary Carson choose the Battered Women’s Shelter as a model program to announce the initiation of this specifically designated funding. Secretary Carson took the time to meet with some of the participants of our programs and offered great compassion and respect for the strength and resilience their individual stories conveyed. He spoke with high regards about our facility, our staff, and of the significant support of our community so clearly provides to us. Additionally, Secretary Carson outlined the importance of the collaboration between government and service providers on all levels, which echoes the strategic efforts Battered Women’s Shelter has made. As advocates for survivors of domestic violence, it was uplifting and empowering to hear the support of our mission directly from one of our leaders in Washington. Not only are we honored to have had Secretary Carson walk through the halls of our shelter, but also to continue our relationship with HUD to help survivors of intimate partner violence in Summit County as well as in shelters all over the state.
