Last year, the Emmaus House served 164 women and children
suffering from domestic abuse, and so far this year the house has
already helped more than 50 people. But as the need is increasing,
funding has decreased. Two California grants that make up $150,000
of the house’s $260,000 budget are gone – a casualty of the state
government’s massive struggles.
It was a little less than five years ago when the Emmaus House opened its door, and since that time hundreds of women and children have called it home.
It’s never a permanent home for those women, but a home to help them transition from one life to another, and rid themselves of the abuse they previously received.
In Hollister, the Emmaus House has served an important part in the health of the community, and like every program in California, the economy is starting to take its toll.
Last year, the Emmaus House served 164 women and children suffering from domestic abuse, and so far this year the house has already helped more than 50 people. But as the need is increasing, funding has decreased.
Two California grants that make up $150,000 of the house’s $260,000 budget are gone – a casualty of the state government’s massive struggles.
And the budget hole has left the house’s board of directors scrambling for funds.
“We’ve figured out how to serve, but we were so focused we actually relied solely on – we didn’t have a diversified funding source – so we relied heavily on two California state grants, and in 2011 both of those will be gone,” Executive Director Mary Lou Coffelt said. “Now we are facing a $150,00 budget deficit.”
And the Emmaus House is setting out to rejuvenate its connection with community donors, Coffelt said.
The Emmaus House was built on local donations, and in this time of need, more support is necessary, she said. It was a local initiative that helped provide housing to those suffering from domestic abuse. Over time, the house has gotten used to the state funding, and it slowly started losing the local leadership and support.
“What we’ve had to do now is shift our focus to fund development and reach out to the community and look at those other type of funding sources,” she said.
To help, the Community Foundation for San Benito County approved a two-for-one match program to alleviate the Emmaus House’s budget issues, said Gary Byrne, executive director of the Community Foundation.
The special grant could fund the house up to $50,000, depending on how much money it raises on its own, Byrne said. For every $2 raised, the house receives $1 from the community foundation.
“They do a wonderful job for this community and it’s important that they remain here,” he said. “They are very instrumental.”
The goal for the Emmaus House is to raise at least $100,000 for this upcoming fiscal year and to continue to raise money moving forward, Coffelt said.
“We need to be sustainable beyond that so we will keep on with fund development beyond that, but we got to make it through 2011 first and move forward,” she said.
So far, donors have been responsive to the Emmaus House’s need, Advertising Consultant Liz Sparling said.
“The good thing is when we talk to people about the Emmaus House, people really react and respond and want to help,” she said. “We want to really let people know that we are here and we are still providing the same services, and the need is in the county.”
She continued: “With domestic violence the need includes the wealthiest of the wealthy and poorest of the poor and we’ve seen it all come through the doors.”
In addition to basic fundraising, the Emmaus House is also offering donors a chance to sponsor one of the 10 overnight rooms for a fee of $10,000. The donor will receive a plaque on the door, letting the woman or family know who is paying for their stay.
The overnight rooms are used for temporary housing for women who have left their homes after domestic abuse, Coffelt said. The house also includes four small kitchens and two living spaces.
The Emmaus House has also published a wish list that catalogs monthly expenses such as Pacific Gas & Electric, water usage and the cost to run its 24/7 crisis hotline.
During a family’s stay, they will be given both physical and mental treatment depending on their individual needs. There is no finite amount of time a family can stay at the house; instead they can leave when they are ready.
The hope is not only to give the women shelter from abuse, but to create a safe haven for the children as well, Coffelt said.
“The goal is that the children stay in school and stay in the community. That’s why we need this shelter in San Benito County,” she said. “We need to make sure we are not displacing children from their school.”
For more information on the organization, go here.
