Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☒ Department: Board of Commissioners - District 7
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): District 7
To Appropriate American Rescue Plan Grant Funds In The Amount Of $50,000 Assigned To POETA Account 105744.63258.521209.01.07.602479 Reserved For The District 7 Appropriation To The Women’s Resource Center To End Domestic Violence To Mitigate The Public Health Emergency Created By The COVID-19 Pandemic
Body
Information Contact: Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson
Phone Number: 404-371-2899
PURPOSE:
To approve the appropriation of $50,000 from the America Rescue Plan grant funds assigned to the account reserved for District 7 to the Women’s Resource Center To End Domestic Violence for the purpose of providing programming and support services to women and their children who are victims of domestic violence.
NEED/IMPACT:
The $50,000 appropriation will be used to provide programming and support services to women and their children who are victims of domestic violence and have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Programming and support services will assist clients by providing safe housing, family and child advocacy, support groups, violence prevention and community education.
The COVID-19 pandemic has fueled the existing epidemic of domestic violence. Domestic violence against women increased to record levels following lockdowns to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus. In a 2021, the United Nations called this crisis a “shadow pandemic” bringing greater awareness to domestic violence in the home. A report released by the National Commission on COVID-19 and Criminal Justice reported that domestic violence incidents in the U.S. increased by 8.1% following lockdown orders during the 2020 pandemic. Domestic violence continues to be a crisis in DeKalb County, the State of Georgia and across the U.S. Domestic violence programming and services are needed to assist victims and their families, as well as mitigate the public health emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
FISCAL IMPACT:
To appropriate an amount not to exceed $50,000 from POETA Account # 105744.63258.521209.01.07.602479 to the Women’s Resource Center To End Domestic Violence to provide domestic violence programming and support services to women and their children who are victims of abuse to mitigate the public health emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
To approve the resolution and authorize the chief executive officer to execute all necessary documents.