NEW SAFEHOUSE PLANS $100,000 CAMPAIGN; DIRECTORS TARGETING OCT. 1 OPENING FOR NEW CAPE FACILITY

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Safe~house for Women Inc., a not-for-profit organization which hopes to establish a safehouse here for women and children who are victims of domestic violence, is moving ahead with plans for a fund drive.

"We've set a goal of $100,000 in our fund drive," said Pat Strom, who is one of the leaders in the move for a new facility here. "We would like to be in a new facility by Oct. 1 of this year."

The city has been without such a shelter since WISER Inc. closed it doors in August because of financial problems.

"We have already set up an emergency facility," said Strom. "We want to hire a director and full-time staff in the future, but right now we're working with a volunteer staff."

Strom spoke at a special meeting of the group, held at First Presbyterian Church Wednesday night. On hand for the meeting was Cecil Cliburn, Eastern Missouri representative for the Missouri Department of Economic Development, who explained the tax credits which are available to businesses that donate funds to the safehouse fund drive.

"The Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) is a tax credit program," Cliburn told the group. "It provides for a state tax credit equal to 50 percent of the amount a business contributes to not-for-profit groups."

Cliburn explained that for every dollar a business donated to a not-for-profit organization, it will receive up to 50 cents off its state tax liability.

"In some cases, that same contribution may also be claimed as a deduction on the federal tax return," he added. "And, depending on the nature of the project, donations of materials, labor and services may be contributed for a tax credit under NAP."

Strom said the funds realized would be utilized to help obtain a facility. When the facility opens, some grant money will be available from federal and state government.

"But, much of the operational funding will be from the local area," she said. "Our primary service area will be Cape County, and we'll be looking to several groups, including churches and civic clubs, for annual contributions. Community support is vital to establish and maintain a safehouse."

Strom said she felt that the safehouse operation is workable here.

"We're looking at a no-frills operation, providing safe shelter and confidential services to help victims take control of their lives," she said. "We're not looking at an operation like WISER, which could provide quarters for up to 65 people. We're thinking more in terms of a 10- to 12-bed facility."

WISER, which was founded as a shelter for victims of domestic violence, had added drug and alcohol abuse to its services, and moved into a new facility in 1988.

Strom emphasized that no safehouse facility for domestic violence was located in the immediate area.

"The closest center is at Malden to the south, and somewhere in the St. Louis area to the north," she said. "There is a need for one here."

A new alcohol and drug abuse treatment center for women is expected to start operations here in July. The Family Counseling Center of Cape Girardeau has been awarded an $880,000 contract by the Missouri Department of Mental Health's Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse for the operation of a women's treatment facility.

"But this does not include a center for domestic violence," said Strom.