Utah domestic violence shelter in need of community donations

WEST JORDAN — South Valley Services, a domestic violence service provider and shelter in West Jordan, is asking the community for monetary donations.

Development Director Josie White said a grant that funds hotel stays for people in crisis will end in the next couple of weeks.

"What we need is the support of our community to keep funding these endeavors," White said.

This year, the number of requests the shelter received from families needing shelter doubled. Right now, all 55 of its beds are occupied. Although a grant funded more than $65,000 in hotel stays this year, the shelter still had to refer out 120 survivors it could not shelter.

"That demand has steadily been increasing since the beginning of the pandemic," White said. "The survivors who come to our shelter have experienced almost unspeakable horrors. All these people in need would be suffering alone and there is no reason for them to have to do that because we exist, our community is behind them, and we all want to help."

White said it takes about $1,000 to house a family for seven days. In a couple of weeks, funding for those hotel stays will run out. They are hoping the community will step up to help their neighbors in crisis.

"This is a communitywide issue that requires a communitywide solution," she said.

Even though the shelter is full, White emphasized that they will not turn people away.

"Even if we do end up being at capacity, when somebody calls, we can place them into a hotel room, and even if we aren't able to house them right away, they can still get in touch with a victim advocate," she said.

You can connect with South Valley Services at 801-255-1095. To donate, dial extension 202.

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