HRDC receives $20K grant for The Haven

District 4 Human Resources Development Council just received a $20,000 grant for “The Haven” the organization’s domestic violence shelter, which is in need of repairs.

HRDC Victims Services Program Director Rose DeBerry, who’s been in that position for just more than a year, said the grant’s funds are unrestricted, so they can be used in any number of ways, but the highest priority now is repairs.

DeBerry said the shelter has had to operate with limited beds for some time now because some of the rooms were in need of repairs, and these funds will allow them to rectify that issue and get back to full capacity.

She said the size and flexibility of this grant makes getting it a big deal for the shelter and HRDC.

“It was huge,” she said. “I don’t know if we’ve ever received this grant before.”

DeBerry has been working to get her program more funding since starting there last year so this grant was “really a blessing.”

She said the shelter is a place for women and children fleeing domestic violence, and having as much room open as possible is important to those people who need a secure and comfortable location to plan their next steps.

“It’s a safe place for them to go and rebuild,” she said.

DeBerry said HRDC can provide advocacy for those fleeing domestic violence and help them navigate community resources, and having a warm comfortable place to do that is critical for them as they attempt to start living independently.

She said for a lot of people on the Hi-Line the closest shelter would be in Great Falls were it not for the shelter in Havre, so having more beds open is going to be a benefit outside of Havre as well.

She said HRDC is still coming up with a plan for how to use the money left after the repairs are done, but however they decide to prioritize potential projects it means they’ll be able to use their existing funds to shore up other programs like their emergency financial services, so their other clients will see benefits as well.

“We’re very excited,” DeBerry said.