The YWCA Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley is pleased to announce that it has received a three-year federal grant totaling $465,243 dollars from the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women. This grant will expand scattered-site transitional housing services, which are currently offered in Oak Ridge and Anderson County, to five additional counties (Blount, Knox, Loudon, Roane and Sevier).
The YWCA Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley’s goal with this program is to decrease homelessness for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking by providing secure housing and support services to victims and their children. “What makes this program so beneficial for victims is that each person will be leasing directly from a landlord, with an interim agreement that the YWCA will provide rental and utility assistance for 6 to 24 months,” said Maggie McNally, director of social services at the YWCA. “Each person is able to build her own credit that will benefit the next stages of her life.”
In addition to housing, each client will have the opportunity to participate in domestic violence support groups, parenting classes, targeted goal creation, employment counseling and financial management classes. The YWCA’s partners on this grant include the Tennessee Valley Coalition for the Homeless, Haven House, Safe Space of East Tennessee and East Tennessee Human Resource Agency.
“Without safe places to go, victims frequently choose to remain in abusive relationships or rely on short-term or unsafe solutions, often ending up homeless,” added YWCA CEO Alizza Punzalan-Randle. “These federal dollars will enable the YWCA to address this critical need by expanding much-needed services to rural areas.”
Since beginning the scattered-site transitional housing program in Oak Ridge and Anderson County in September 2017, the YWCA has been committed to responding to the increasing need for transitional housing services throughout the Tennessee Valley. Currently, more than 25 victims and their children are being housed in scattered sites throughout Anderson County. The YWCA is currently hiring for a Transitional Housing Coordinator for Blount, Knox, Loudon, Roane and Sevier counties. Please contact the YWCA at 865-523-6126 for more information.
This project was supported by Grant No. 2018-WH-AX-0038 awarded by the Office of Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Justice.
About YWCA Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley
The YWCA is a nonprofit social-service agency dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. The YWCA reaches over 23,000 clients and families annually through women’s housing, advocacy for victims of domestic violence, youth programming, and health and wellness opportunities. Service areas in East Tennessee include Anderson, Blount, Knox, Loudon, Roane and Sevier counties.