Affordable housing is critical to the services provided by The Shelter for Abused Women and Children

The Shelter for Abused Women & Children recently opened the Shelly Stayer Emergency Shelter in Immokalee. CEO Linda Oberhaus tells us that affordable housing is critical to the services provided at The Shelter.   

“The people who come to us are situationally homeless as a result of domestic violence or human trafficking. Our map of calls to 911 due to domestic violence shows a cluster in Immokalee. We find the higher the population density, the more likely there will be a higher incidence of domestic violence.”  IFHA housing would be a start to alleviating some of the density issues. Also, we anticipate The Shelter will refer women with children to IFHA as potential residents.  

Interestingly, The Shelter has a number of transitional living cottages in Naples, which they rent to women for 30% of household income. As you’ve probably heard many times, IFHA will similarly provide housing to people in need at no more than 30% of their income. That’s a tremendous improvement to the 70% of income that many of the hardworking people of Immokalee are now paying.