The Domestic Violence Service Center (DVSC) received a $50,000 First Federal Charitable Foundation grant to help support its emergency shelter expansion project.
DVSC, which opened the first emergency shelter in Northeastern Pennsylvania in 1978, is the only agency in Luzerne and Carbon counties whose primary purpose is to provide direct service through short term emergency shelter and comprehensive services for domestic violence victims and their dependent children.
Paula Triano, executive director and CEO of the center, said the need to shelter victims has grown greatly over the years especially since Covid began. “Even before Covid we were seeing an increase in the number of victims who needed shelter and we were having an issue meeting the demands of the two counties. Right now, we can’t shelter everyone at the center and once Covid funding runs out we are going to have a problem.”
Due to the increasing trend in the number of individuals with children who are seeking shelter and the shelter's current design, which includes four bedrooms with six bunk beds in each that accommodates 24 individuals, the shelter capacity often results in the need for multiple families to share the same room.
In response to this need, DVSC will use the funding from private foundations like First Federal Charitable Foundation to help support construction, expansion, rehabilitation, and improvements to its facility/emergency shelter, including providing an expanded level of service to populations with special needs. The agency plans to add an additional six bedrooms to provide more family-friendly rooms. Funding will be used for architectural plans, engineering plans, and the renovation/expansion of the facility for shelter rooms, restrooms, kitchen and living space. Separate office space will be created for the legal department/staff with internal access for shelter victims and a secure private entrance for non-residents.
DVSC, which services nearly 3,000 individuals annually, works toward the elimination of domestic violence through education and outreach, and the provision of a full range of direct services to victims and their dependent children. Over the past five years, DVSC staff have seen a 56% increase in shelter days/nights and an 80% increase in persons sheltered. By expanding the shelter/facility capacity, DVSC will be able to meet the current capacity need and demand for services for victims and their children.
Construction of the addition, which will add another six rooms with six bunk beds in each room, is expected to begin in early December or March as they are awaiting final approval from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The First Federal Charitable Foundation was established to support worthwhile community causes. It strives to nurture nonprofit institutions and programs that will effectively serve those in need from the community, empower nonprofit institutions and programs that will expand their presence in and services to the area, and promote opportunities for new nonprofit institutions and programs that will serve the unserved.
Nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) IRS designation located in Luzerne, Schuylkill, Carbon and Columbia counties are eligible to apply. Any organization whose headquarters is in another county but services either Luzerne, Schuylkill, Carbon or Columbia counties may apply for a grant to be used in one of those counties.
For more information on the foundation or to obtain a grant application, email