In June of 2020, Safe Passage of DeKalb County applied for a DeKalb County COVID-19 Response Grant offered through the DeKalb County Community Foundation. The request for support was to provide temporary emergency shelter and a safe place for their clients.

The request for funding was rewarded with a $9,000 grant. The grant dollars provided 32 clients in high-risk situations with emergency shelter at an off-site location during COVID-19. Safe Passage also provided for their basic needs and included needed services such as case-management, counseling, and legal advocacy.

Looking ahead, they anticipate emergency shelter as a continued priority. Safe Passage has limited space to safely house people during the pandemic and being able to offer off-site shelter is critical. They stated that some of their clients are experiencing increased barriers at this time and may require some amount of financial assistance. Examples of increased barriers included obtaining employment and locating childcare.

Safe Passage provides a range of services to victims of domestic and sexual violence. Their mission is to reduce or prevent this violence in DeKalb County.

Thank you to the many donors whose gifts make grants like these possible! And thank you to the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund for the multiple grants that boosted the amount we were able to give in response to local needs. 

Funding for this grant program is made possible by the DeKalb County COVID-19 Response Fund, a new component pass through Fund created in collaboration with various local funding partners. The Fund’s purpose is to be a depository for contributions intended to respond to the effects of COVID-19 in DeKalb County by distributing grants that address preparedness, response, recovery, and/or rebuilding efforts.