DTE Energy Foundation awards $1 million to support domestic violence shelters

DETROIT– The DTE Energy Foundation will award $1 million in grants to all 45 domestic violence shelters funded by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to help alleviate the significant financial and operational stress the shelter system has sustained due to COVID-19.

End Violent Encounters (EVE) in Lansing, AWARE in Jackson, and SafeHouse Center in Ann Arbor are among the recipients.

This $1 million commitment comes less than a year after the DTE Foundation awarded $400,000 in grants to domestic violence shelters funded by MDHHS.

Unexpected shelter expenses include increased cleaning and sanitization; COVID-19 testing; heavier reliance on hotels and motels due to reduced bed counts required to meet safety guidelines (beds are down about 50% statewide); and cancelled/postponed fundraising, among other factors.

Grants of $10,000 or more will be awarded based on bed count.

These grants will support critical expenses at each shelter and allow shelters to deliver holistic survivor-centric services and support that develop independence and empowerment. Initiatives include, but are not limited to employment, housing and transportation assistance, and support services that help survivors navigate the complex criminal justice and health care systems – two primary barriers to independence.

This funding will also help shelters develop and deploy domestic violence awareness and prevention initiatives, engage employees and members of their local communities, and motivate other organizations to support this important cause.