YWCA Clark County nabs $3M grant to prevent homelessness

YWCA Clark County’s (YWCACC) Domestic Violence Program, SafeChoice, has received a $3 million, multi-year grant to prevent homelessness from the Ed and Dollie Lynch Fund at the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington.

Domestic violence is a major cause of homelessness for women as half of all homeless women and children have fled abuse. To address this cause, YWCACC plans to increase its SafeChoice shelter capacity and enhance holistic services that give long-lasting support to survivors of domestic violence according to Holly Jacobs, Board President of YWCACC.

“A grant of this magnitude is transformative to our community, expanding access to a safe, confidential location with supportive services for more women in Clark County,” Jacobs said in a news release. “We are so appreciative of this investment.”

Michael Lynch, a personal representative for the Ed & Dollie Lynch Fund at the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington, said the advisors saw the urgency of this issue because domestic violence rates are on the rise.

“We have an emergent need for additional services to address domestic violence in our community. This is a critical moment where providing the needed services to women and children can interrupt the cycle of poverty and launch an exit from survival mode, while restoring freedom and independence,” Lynch said. “The advisors believe that investing in the YWCA’s incredible and effective program will help make this happen.”

For more on YWCACC, visit ywcaclarkcounty.org or go to @YWCACC on social media.

‘Soil Basics’ seminar March 18

NatureScaping of Southwest Washington has partnered with the Camas Public Library to present an online “Soil Basics” webinar at 4 p.m. March 18.

Presented by Arthur Fuller, a Cowlitz County master gardener, the March 18 Zoom class will discuss the building blocks for obtaining a good soil with the right pH and nutrient levels in order to have a successful garden. The presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

To register, visit https://us02web.zoom.us/webi nar/register/WN_fiv0tNV oTSWOZQQJGMEO7g. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about how to join the class.

The class is free, but donations to NatureScaping of Southwest Washington are appreciated. For more information, visit naturescaping.org, email info@naturescaping.org or marlene52ns@gmail.com, or call 360-737-1160.