As it continues its difficult mission of working towards eliminating violence, Help and Shelter is still scraping for funding in order to continue providing the services it offers to the general public.
Help and Shelter’s mission is to work towards the elimination of violence in all its forms “by helping to create a society where attitudes to the use of violence and practices of violence have been transformed.”
And in order to effectively function in furtherance of this mission, the non-governmental organisation (NGO) has required constant funding in its 20 years of operating.
However, Help and Shelter Director and Project Coordinator Margaret Kertzious stated that even though the organisation receives an annual grant of $10 million from the government, it is not enough to cover the expenses that come with running the operations.
According to Kertzious, the $10 million goes to the general management of Help and Shelter, while its Crisis Centre and its outreach programmes, such as regional workshops, depend heavily on donations and funding from other entities.
Though donations are made by some sections of the business sector, Kertzious stated that it usually does not come in the form of financial contributions.
When asked how much more money she believes will be enough to properly facilitate the organisation’s work, Kertzious mentioned a drafted proposal seeking an additional $5 million from the government to cover expenses.
The organisation has yet to receive a grant this year since the national budget has been delayed in the run up to general elections in May.
In 2014, Help and Shelter offered services such as face-to-face counselling to 72 males and 192 females, took calls on its hotline from approximately 111 adults, offered in court (moral) support to 46 adults and had a total shelter intake of 33 females and 32 children. It also saw 295 adults as repeat clients.
