$6M Grant Awarded For New Domestic Violence Safe House In Buck Co.

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has awarded $6.1 million to Bucks County and A Woman’s Place for the construction of a new domestic violence shelter.

The funding is being awarded through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) HOME Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Non-Congregate Shelter Program.

“A Woman’s Place does incredible work in our community, helping some of our most vulnerable citizens through crisis intervention, counseling, and education,” said State Senator Steve Santarsiero who helped secure the grant. “I proudly supported this funding, as it will expand the county’s capacity to provide safe housing for victims and allow for more comprehensive services to accommodate the diverse needs of our community.”

The new, non-congregate safe house will be able to host up to 10 households at a time and will provide more trauma-informed space for the survivors who come through the program. The current shelter is a seven-bedroom community living facility.

According to A Woman's Place, the new shelter will better serve the diverse needs of the community, such as accommodating survivors of all genders and survivors with pets.

“We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to be a part of building a safe house that truly meets the complex needs of survivors and expands our capacity to provide safety, support, and hope for those seeking safety in our community,” said Jen Locker, executive director of A Woman’s Place.

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Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia added, “The county is thrilled with this grant and we will contribute, our own grant, to make this much-needed shelter a reality.”

A Woman’s Place is the only domestic violence community benefit organization in Bucks County and provides a full range of programs and services to individuals experiencing domestic violence, their children, and the community. Additional information on A Woman’s Place can be found on the organization’s website.

Additional information on DCED’s HOME Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Non-Congregate Shelter Program can be found on the DCED website.