Family Services of S. WI & N. IL, Inc. has been awarded a $100,000 grant from United Way Blackhawk Region for continued support of the domestic violence advocacy program, Defy Domestic Abuse Beloit. This funding will assist the program in maintaining operations and services to survivors residing in the program’s emergency shelter and in the community.
Kelsey Hood-Christenson, President and CEO of Family Services of S. WI & N. IL, Inc. states “We appreciate United Way Blackhawk Region’s support of our services and the many others they also help to bring to our community. We are honored to have partnered with United Way Blackhawk Region for several years and their continued support allows us to maintain our services to survivors of domestic violence while also pushing forward with new services to meet emerging needs.”
In 2022, Defy Domestic Abuse Beloit served 209 number of survivors with a total of 889 hours of direct services. Of those served, 105 survivors received shelter through the program’s emergency shelter for a total of 7165 bed-nights; the average stay for a resident in the program’s emergency shelter was 59 nights. The program also received a total of 2730 hotline calls in 2022 and provided 5827 items for direct assistance such as bus tokens, personal hygiene items, gas cards, household items, linens, and clothing. The program also provided $69000 in financial assistance to survivors for legal fees and representation, motel vouchers, veterinary care, and moving assistance.
DEFY Domestic Abuse Beloit is a part of Family Services of Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois, Inc. It extends to survivors of domestic abuse all the support offered by Family Services. This includes parenting support; therapy and counseling; legal advocacy; and community outreach.
