Supervisors' approval for the agreement between the county and Lake Family Resource Center, which is building the Freedom House domestic violence shelter, was unanimous.
County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox said the county has been setting aside money from onetime revenue sources over the last couple of fiscal years in order to assist with the domestic violence shelter's development. That's how it raised the $175,000 it will pay Lake Family Resource Center.
The shelter effort also has obtained grant funds from other sources, and now was requesting the $175,000 be released to them, said Cox.
Staff presented the proposed agreement between the county and the shelter, and recommended the board's approval.
Gloria Flaherty, Lake Family Resource Center's executive director, thanked Cox and Administrative Analyst Doug Willardson for their work on the contract.
Flaherty explained that the center is in the process of a capital campaign to fund the shelter, which they originally had planned to build. But those plans have changed.
“One of the results of the real estate downtown was that we were presented with an opportunity to purchase an already constructed building that will serve our purposes very nicely for just about half of what it would cost us to construct one from scratch,” she said.
Flaherty told Lake County News in a previous interview that the full shelter project, as originally envisioned, was estimated to cost $2.6 million.
The shelter effort received a $1 million forgivable loan through the state's Emergency Housing Assistance Program, funded through Proposition 46, Flaherty said. The state has approved converting the loan from construction purposes to aid the building purchase.
Last Friday, the state notified the center that funding for the shelter is in place and is a “priority one” project, said Flaherty.
Meanwhile, the building purchase is moving forward, with the building in escrow, Flaherty said. “We anticipate being able to close escrow by the end of July.”
In addition to the $1 million forgivable loan and the $175,000 from the county, the capital campaign has raised $125,000. The latter two amounts will allow the center to renovate and improve the shelter building, and add a fence, alarm system and cameras, and a more appropriate kitchen space, said Flaherty.
The shelter is getting off the ground at a crucial time.
Flaherty said that, over the the last several years, the shelter's average number of residents has doubled, rising from about 10 people a night to 20. On a recent night they had 27 people.
“This new shelter will allow for 30 beds, and I'm afraid we're going to outgrow it before we move in,” she said.
Supervisor Anthony Farrington asked if the shelter will have any loans to repay or if it will be free of mortgages. Flaherty said they expect to have no mortgage on the shelter facility.
“That's awesome,” said Farrington. “It's turning out to be a real win-win.”
He asked about the Proposition 46 funds, which Flaherty explained will be forgiven if the facility continues to be operated as a domestic violence shelter for 10 years. During that time interest accrues at a rate of 3 percent annually, but they don't need to make payments, and that interest also will be forgiven if the shelter continues operation.
Likewise, the county agreement calls for Lake Family Resource Center to repay the $175,000 if the shelter ceases to operate.
Farrington said he hopes there will be an opportunity for Lake Family Resource Center, law enforcement, Victim-Witness and Alcohol and Other Drug Services to create a game plan for being more proactive in addressing local domestic violence abuse statistics.
Flaherty said they're encouraged by the recent actions of county law enforcement, including judges beginning to deal with the firearms relinquishment issue. She said the center also has a domestic violence prevention task force and there is work on to help children with eliminating violence from their lives.
She said that only about 10 percent of the people seeking the shelter's services are using alcohol and drugs, and they report that their batterers are using substances about 20 percent of the time.
Flaherty said alcohol and drugs is a contributor to domestic violence, but it's not causal. The desire to control is a bigger cause.
Supervisor Rob Brown said the tough economic times may also be an issue.
Flaherty agreed that they see an increase in the demand for services during economic downturns, with homelessness being an issue for many of the women who come to the shelter. Many of them already have left their batterers but have nowhere to go and are living in their cars. Hunger also is a growing issue, with the shelter increasingly having meals available.
Supervisor Jeff Smith congratulated Flaherty and her staff for working for so hard, for so long. “It's going to be here in nothing flat,” he said of the completed shelter, suggesting it will be a stimulus package for the county.
Flaherty said Lake Family Resource Center's board is committed to using local contractors for the renovation work. She said community support has been strong and is making the shelter come together.
“This is really becoming the kind of project that we dreamed about, and that is that it is a community project, it is community owned, it is not going to be our shelter, it is going to be the community's, and we're very excited about that,” she said.
Farrington asked if the shelter is going to be “neon” or more clandestine and confidential.
Flaherty said they've discovered over the last 12 years that, in a community this size, it's hard to keep locations confidential because, once a woman returns to her batterer, the word is out. Just two weeks ago, a batterer showed up at the shelter.
Keeping the shelter more visible will make it more of a resource for the community, said Flaherty, noting it will have alarms and cameras. She added that law enforcement is responsive to their needs, with the Lake County Sheriff's Office giving them first response whenever they call.
“We so appreciate your support and everything you've done,” Flaherty told the board.
Board Chair Denise Rushing, in turn, thanked Flaherty for her hard work and tenacity in making the shelter a reality.
Brown said it was a very good project in a perfect location.
“Folks out there know, this is our place, and we're going to take care of it, and take care of the residents who live there, no mater what,” he said, telling Flaherty. “I think what you've done is a great thing.”
Brown moved to approve the agreement, which Farrington seconded. The board approved the agreement 5-0.
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