Safe Homes of Orange County Awarded Grant

NEWBURGH –  Safe Homes of Orange County was recently awarded a $2,500 grant from the MAXIMUS Foundation for their innovative work in serving disadvantaged populations in the community by helping them move towards self-sufficiency through their unique programs. The MAXIMUS Foundation’s biannual grant making program is an extremely competitive process.
Safe Homes of Orange County will use the grant funding to support its Human Trafficking initiative, Orange County Safe Harbor. Due to a growing need in the county, this program was formed as a collaborative effort between Safe Homes, the Department of Social Services, and HONOR, with Safe Homes taking the lead in outreach and advocacy.
In 2016, Safe Homes’ advocates provided services to 90 individual cases of predominantly young women, ranging in age from 10 to 18 years old, with some as young as 5, who were victims of sex trafficking, labor trafficking, suspected of being trafficked, or at extreme high risk for trafficking. Trained advocates help victims seek safety, secure emergency shelter, medical care, counseling and legal services.
“We are honored and grateful for support from MAXIMUS and its commitment to helping the most vulnerable population in our community. Their support of our human trafficking program will allow us to provide greater outreach and more services to the youth in our community to help them establish lives free of violence and abuse. Together, we can create a safer community, and more opportunities for self-reliance and success for our young people,” said Christa Orsino, Development Director for Safe Homes of Orange County.
“The MAXIMUS Foundation is proud to present Safe Homes of Orange County with a grant in honor of its commitment to improving the lives of those it serves in the community,” said John Boyer, MAXIMUS Foundation Chairman. “Through its innovative services and solutions, Safe Homes of Orange County’s values continue to align with those of the MAXIMUS Foundation – helping disadvantaged populations while supporting individuals’ and families’ pursuit of self-sufficiency and improved health care outcomes. On behalf of the MAXIMUS Foundation, I am so grateful for Safe Homes of Orange County’s dedicated work.”