TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Big Donation Keeps Family Justice Center Afloat

ADVERTISEMENT

By SHERRI ACKERMAN | The Tampa Tribune
and JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 31, 2008

TAMPA - A Tampa center for domestic violence victims was on the brink of closing last week.
But today, the Family Justice Center learned it will survive at least another eight months thanks to $350,000 from the Children's Board of Hillsborough County.

"It is a huge relief," said Nikki Daniels, the center's executive director. "We had heard from so many victims, 'Oh my gosh, what are we going to do without you guys being there?' "

The justice center opened in October 2006 as a one-stop location offering victims counseling, help with filing court injunctions, food stamp applications and emergency housing, among other needs.

The only center of its kind in Florida, it was modeled after a U.S. Department of Justice program and funded by a $1.1 million start-up grant. The facility helped nearly 2,300 victims in the past year, but it could never attract local financial support.

Organizers were prepared to close Feb. 8, but, instead, will now have enough money to stay open at least through Sept. 30, the end of the center's fiscal year.

"It doesn't make sense to let it go down," said Luanne Panacek, executive director of the Children's Board.

The board, which is funded by the county and provides financial and technical support to programs that benefit children, talked for days about options before agreeing to fund the center.

"Other things won't get money now – and that's the drawback," Panacek said. "But in my heart, this is the right thing to do."

During the next 90 days, the board will work with justice center leaders to identify other funding sources to keep the facility at 9309 N. Florida Ave. open indefinitely, Panacek said.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT