Domestic Violence & Homelessness, plus more

Fall represents a time for transformation. It is a time to reflect on the growth achieved throughout the year and identify a vision for the future. It is also a time to show gratitude and thanks.
Over the past nine months, I have had the opportunity to take stock of all of the services, programs, and partnerships we have at the Neighborhood Center of West Volusia (NHCWV). Our organization’s impact on individuals going through their greatest time of need is incredible. We couldn’t do what we do without our community’s fantastic support.
The NHCWV made it through Hurricane Ian with minimal damage. For the first time, we were able to utilize our Bridge Community Room as an Emergency Storm Shelter for homeless individuals. We sheltered eighteen individuals throughout the storm along with the thirty clients housed in the Bridge. Operations ran smoothly thanks to our incredible staff and the generator that provided power to our building.
With the impact of Hurricane Ian, we anticipate a rise in food and housing needs. During times of disaster, monetary donations are deeply appreciated because we can put them towards the greatest need. We are also accepting food donations in our food pantry and, as always, undergarments and shower supplies.
Typically, we have 25 – 30 new applicants for prevention services in one month. However, we have seen an exponential increase over the past three months. In August alone, we had 91 new clients that needed rental and utility assistance.
When assessing our current spaces and services on our main campus, we found that we have outgrown our space where Homeless Prevention Services are provided. We are excited to announce the move of our Thrift Store to 550 South Spring Garden Avenue in DeLand. This move will provide a larger area to house our Center for Homeless Prevention Services. The space will have four professional case management offices, a large food distribution room, and a nice waiting area for our clients. The Center for Homeless Prevention Services will take some time to build, and we want our community and partners to be a part of the process of helping us create this new space. If you are interested in supporting our Center for Homeless Prevention Services, please connect with our Chief Development Officer, Debra West at debra.west@nhcwv.org.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. Did you know that the NHCWV has a program that will cover the rent of individuals fleeing domestic violence for over a year? In this newsletter, you can learn more about the resources we provide victims of domestic violence. On October 21st, from 8-9:30 a.m. at the Sanborn Center, we will be hosting our Fourth Annual Robed in Love event, where we will honor our volunteers and donors. All proceeds from this event will go towards our Domestic Violence program, providing matching dollars for permanent housing to survivors. We have incredible speakers lined up for this event, and it will be an opportunity you won’t want to miss!
It is the season of gratitude and thanks, and we couldn’t be more grateful for our incredible partners, volunteers, and donors. Thank you for supporting us in achieving our mission of feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, and preventing homelessness!