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Housing CELEBRATION and ANNOUNCEMENT

Today CAPSA, The Dell Loy Hansen Family Foundation and Altabank planned on hosting a CELEBRATION and ANNOUNCEMENT media event.  Although we had to cancel this event due to COVID-19, we still wanted to share the news and celebrate at a distance.

SAFE HOMES – CAPSA’S HOUSING PROGRAM

For individuals and families escaping abuse, a safe home is important to the healing process; this is why CAPSA offers multiple housing programs for our clients. The primary program combines rent subsidies with educational workgroups and case management. Families find housing in our community and are able to remain in this program for up to two years as they work towards independence.

Independance Place

Many clients may not qualify for community based housing because of lack of job history, credit damage by abuse or other reasons; therefore, in 2015, CAPSA built Independence Place, a nine home neighborhood. This is the only neighborhood owned by a nonprofit domestic violence service center in Utah. This neighborhood provides a safety net for families who struggle to secure housing. Families in Independence Place participate in the same transitional housing program and can also stay in these homes for up to two years.

CELEBRATION – HOME AND FAMILY SPONSORS

CAPSA’s transitional housing program averages over 30 families –  the average annual rent subsidies are $6,000 per family per year. Working with Altabank, CAPSA created a home and family sponsorship program in which organizations and donors sponsor a home and family by covering this annual housing cost.

Altabank was our first sponsor and their vision has led to the following sponsors:

We want to thank all of our sponsors for their support of CAPSA and Safe Homes.

When we started this program, our goal was to obtain nine sponsors; we reached that goal earlier this year. This program now generates more than $50,000 per year supporting CAPSA’s housing program and other core services.

You can learn more about home sponsorship at: https://www.capsa.org/home-sponsor

ANNOUNCEMENT – FOURPLEX

Although you may have already seen the media’s coverage on the opening of the fourplex, we had planned to announce it at this event. This fourplex is CAPSA’s newest extension to our transitional housing program.

The Dell Loy Hansen Family Foundation purchased a fourplex earlier this year for CAPSA’s exclusive use for our transitional housing program. The property was in need of major repairs, so the Real Salt Lake (RSL) Foundation donated $60,000 to completely renovate these homes. They were scheduled to be completed in late April.

However, due to the COVID-19 public crisis, CAPSA needed more emergency shelter space to accommodate the social distancing precautions and increased demand for shelter. In response to the crisis concerns, the RSL Foundation worked with the contractors on this project to finalize and open these units  almost a month early.

During this crisis, CAPSA will utilize these units for a combination of emergency shelter and transitional housing.

You can read more from:

Cache Valley Daily | HJ NEWS | KSL | ABC 4 | SL Tribune

Video of the progress

ANNOUNCEMENT – INDEPENDENCE WAY

Lastly, CAPSA is excited to announce that we are in the process of building a second neighborhood called Independence Way. We plan to finish this project later this year.

The need for affordable housing is essential in helping our clients. CAPSA had the opportunity to purchase a planned neighborhood development which includes an existing triplex and five building lots. The total cost for this project is $1.8 million. We are excited to report that this project is 100 percent funded.

We want to highlight the major contributors to this project:

We also had several individual donors that contributed to Independence Way.

Thank you to everyone who supported this project to ensure safe homes for our clients.

These homes will also be available for sponsorship. Learn more at: https://www.capsa.org/home-sponsor

We wish we could have shared and celebrated the announcements of these amazing projects with you in person. It is only because of your support that we’re able to accomplish this work – thank you!

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Sexual Assault Awareness Month

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, when we as a community and as a nation take time to learn and better understand the problem of sexual assault and how we can make our communities safer.  

One of the best things all of us can do for survivors is to take the time to learn what services are available for them and understand how to help. So, if someone has been raped or sexually assaulted, here are some of CAPSA’s services which would likely be helpful. 

CAPSA offers services for survivors of rape and sexual assault. All CAPSA’s services are free, confidential, and designed to support survivors as they overcome the emotional, physical, and economic barriers to healing.  

Sexual Assault Response Team 

CAPSA’s Sexual Assault Response Team is a team of Advocates, available 24-hours a day for survivors of sexual assault and rape receiving a sexual assault forensic exam at the Cache Valley Hospital. Response Team Advocates ensure the process runs smooth and keeps the needs of the survivor at the forefront. 

Assistance Filing for Protective Orders 

CAPSA’s Advocates provide assistance to survivors wishing to file for a Protective Order, a useful tool for ensuring safety. Protective Orders provide a legal defense and require abusers maintain distance.  

Therapy 

CAPSA provides therapy for survivors of sexual assault and rape to ensure they have the tools and support to overcome the emotional stress of trauma. CAPSA’s Therapy has no time constraints, meaning whether you experienced your abuse last week or as a child, the service is available.  

Therapy is also available for secondary survivors of rape and sexual assault, because taking care of someone in crisis is not easy and can be emotionally taxing for those providing support as well.  

Sexual Assault Awareness Month provides an opportunity to spread awareness and ensure we as a community are meeting the needs of survivors. Particularly in times of crisis, it is good and necessary for communities to pull together and know how to protect and support one another. 

If you have experienced rape or sexual assault, or if you are struggling to support someone who has, you are not alone. Call CAPSA at 435-753-2500 to find out how we can help.