40 | Summer 2021
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
CAPSA Expands Transitional Housing to Help Even More Abuse Victims Gain Independence EMILY BUCKLEY
editor in chief
For individuals and families escaping abuse, a safe home is important to the healing process. Yet, for individuals leaving an abusive home, finding low cost/affordable housing continues to be the most significant barrier to starting a life free from abuse. “A basic need we all have is a safe home, a safe place to go at the end of the day, a safe place to recharge and regroup, a safe place for our children to learn and grow,” Jill Anderson, CAPSA’s executive director said. This is why CAPSA (Community Abuse Prevention Service Agency), a nonprofit domestic violence support center serving Cache and Rich counties, offers multiple housing programs for their clients. Each year CAPSA provides support to more than 1,500 women, men, and children escaping abuse and starting new lives. CAPSA’s Transitional Housing Program, which started in 2005, is a two-year program which includes housing subsidies coupled with advocacy and educational programming. The program focuses on developing independence by reducing housing expense and assisting
clients as they work toward a life asset such as a down payment on a home or an education. CAPSA’s housing caseworkers help clients find housing and supports them during this transition — this may include short-term assistance or housing subsidize for up to twoyears. This program is successful at helping families start new lives free from abuse. Due to a shortage of affordable housing, and for clients who would not qualify for standard housing, CAPSA saw a need to own dedicated housing for clients. “What we found was that many survivors would come into our shelter, but without housing support they would get trapped in a downward spiral of high rent and low income. Many would return to an abuser or end up in similar circumstances,” Jill said. CAPSA began construction on Independence Place, a planned unit development owned and managed by CAPSA, in 2010. Built on CAPSA campus, this neighborhood has nine homes, a playground, park, and community gardens. Due to limited
Dell Loy Hansen, Jill Anderson, Keri Hansen Hale visit and inspect Independence Way.
