HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Gov. Kay Ivey has announced additional support for victims of domestic violence through Alabama’s Domestic Violence Trust Fund.
The trust fund, established by the Alabama Legislature in 2015 and supported by Ivey, receives revenue from marriage recording fees. This funding will benefit 14 domestic violence shelters across the state.
The following agencies are receiving trust fund money and serve various regions, including several in North Alabama:
- Safeplace Inc. – Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Marion, and Winston counties.
- AshaKiran Inc. – Madison County.
- Crisis Services of North Alabama – Jackson, Madison, and Morgan counties.
- Domestic Violence Crisis Services – Cherokee, DeKalb, and Marshall counties.
- Victim Services Cullman Inc. – Cullman County.
- Family Resource Center of Northwest Alabama – Walker County.
- Second Chance Inc. – Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Etowah, Randolph, and Talladega counties.
- SAN Inc. (Turning Point) – Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter, and Tuscaloosa counties.
- SafeHouse of Shelby County – Chilton, Coosa, and Shelby counties.
- Domestic Violence Intervention Center – Chambers, Lee, Macon, Randolph, and Tallapoosa counties.
- Montgomery Area Family Violence Program (Family Sunshine Center) – Autauga, Butler, Chilton, Crenshaw, Elmore, Lowndes, and Montgomery counties.
- The House of Ruth – Barbour, Bullock, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston, and Pike counties.
- Penelope House – Choctaw, Clarke, Mobile, and Washington counties.
- Baldwin Family Violence Shelter (The Lighthouse) – Baldwin, Conecuh, Escambia, and Monroe counties.
Ivey awarded $105,757 from the trust fund to the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence, which supports regional agencies that help victims. An additional $80,000 was given to the state Office of Prosecution Services to aid in investigating and prosecuting domestic violence cases.
“These funds are key to helping provide safe havens for domestic violence victims and innocent family members who must escape abusive situations,” Gov. Ivey said. “I commend those agencies and their staff members who are committed to helping people escape volatile situations and rebuild their lives.”
The amount each agency receives depends on factors such as the population of the service area and the number of domestic violence incidents reported there. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) manages the trust fund.
“Gov. Ivey has continually demonstrated her concern for domestic violence victims and family members by backing measures like the Domestic Violence Trust Fund,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA joins the governor in her support of these organizations and the work they do.”
In the first three quarters of 2024, domestic violence agencies received a total of $1.1 million from the trust fund to assist victims. The funding for these agencies is based directly on marriage recording fees collected.
