PORT ANGELES — Healthy Families of Clallam County and the Forks Abuse Program have been awarded a $250,000 grant to help women and men escape abusive households.
Half of the grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will be used to cover moving expenses for victims.
Often, said Healthy Families Executive Director Becca Korby, victims stay in abusive homes because of financial barriers.
“If the only barrier to safe housing is you can’t afford first month’s deposit, let us help you with that,” she said.
The money can also be used to help pay utility bills, Korby said.
The rest of the grant will be used on medical, legal and other services, she said.
About 350 people are expected to be served with the grant.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Vigils to be held
Healthy Families will hold vigils at noon Wednesday, Oct. 26, at The Gateway transit center in Port Angeles and at noon Friday, Oct. 28, at the corner of Sequim Avenue and Washington Street in Sequim.
Korby said the organization is also looking for new property to replace its “communal” emergency shelter with individual units.
She requests that anyone who can assist with that effort phone her at 360-452-3811.
