Tri-County Safe Harbor, 905 First Ave. S. in Escanaba, provides services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking in the community. The organization has experienced federal cuts to the Victims of Crime Act, or VOCA, funding this year. The agency is looking for people willing to volunteer, become an intern, donate and more. (Courtesy photo)

ESCANABA – For those looking to make a difference close to home, Tri-County Safe Harbor Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is seeking volunteers, interns and donations to help weather the storm of recent funding cuts.

Tri-County Safe Harbor, 905 First Ave. S., Escanaba, provides vital and essential services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking in our community. The organization has experienced drastic cuts to the Victims of Crime Act funding and other decreases this year.

As the organization faces the challenges of recent funding cuts, the need for dedicated volunteers has never been greater.

With $70,000 in VOCA cuts alone, the shelter leadership had to make difficult decisions in response. Those decisions included temporarily closing their outreach office in Schoolcraft County, releasing two part-time valued employees and reducing hours of employees to attempt to stay afloat.

Funded through the federal Victims of Crime Act, these vital dollars serve as a lifeline for local domestic violence shelters, helping cover the real and often overwhelming costs victims face on their journey to safety and healing. VOCA funding bridges critical financial gaps covering expenses like transportation, medical care, counseling, funeral costs, lost wages, and more. By supplementing state compensation programs, VOCA ensures survivors are not left to face the aftermath of violence alone.

In Fiscal Year 2023 to 2024, the team at Tri-County Safe Harbor provided safe shelter and support to 140 women, 47 children, and five men, totaling 2,331 bed nights. This year’s funding cuts have created uncertainty, limiting their ability to respond quickly, travel for advocacy, and sustain essential services, as the organization states.

You can volunteer to answer the 24-hour helpline, provide on-call crisis response for survivors, assist residential clients, help facilitate youth support groups, and more.

Tri-County Safe Harbor is also seeking compassionate and community-minded individuals to serve on its Board of Directors and committees, which include Fundraising, Finance, Public Relations, and Building.

Those interested in volunteering or learning more can contact Melissa at 906-789-9207, ext. 3; by email at melissa@safe3c.com; or go to www.safe3c.com.