Frankfort domestic violence center closing
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Domestic violence is an epidemic in Kentucky, according to directors in the industry.
So why would the only shelter in Frankfort be shutting down?
The Sunshine Center, a domestic violence, family abuse and support shelter is now closing after 42 years of service due to a lack of funding.
“Probably the biggest problem was when a prior director didn’t apply for our biggest grant, the VOCA grant,” said Jason Apollo Hart, Co-President of The Sunshine Center. “Didn’t apply for it at all and that hurt us maybe $84,000 that we didn’t have coming in.”
Outside of the former safe house, the center offered counseling services, nurturing parenting classes, an infant supply pantry and supervised visitations.
The center made a post on Facebook earlier in the week announcing their closing. Letting people know that Greenhouse 17 will take over their supervised visitations.
“We want to make sure that those services continue to be covered,” said Greenhouse 17 Executive Director, Darlene Thomas. “We already provide advocacy there every week, I have advocates that go to court and provide support, help do support groups. We have a lot of services available for survivors.”
According to Kentucky’s statewide domestic violence report, released this time last year, more than 45% of women and 35% of men experience intimate partner physical violence or rape in their lifetimes.
“The rate of domestic violence in this state is epidemic in an of itself,” said Thomas. “So to lose any services feels really, not just sad, but kind of harmful to the people who needed them.”
And with no more than 20 domestic violence shelters across Kentucky, victims in Frankfort will now have to look to surrounding counties.
“So I think it’s going to be a struggle, certainly losing the shelter was big because now we don’t have a shelter,” said Hart. “I think it’s going to make family life in town and the surrounding communities much harder.”
The Sunshine Center will officially close June 30th.
