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MAIN APPLICATION
<br />Program /Proiect Descriation (Label your responses as outlined below; not to exceed 3 pages.)
<br />Please provide the following information about the proposed program /project:
<br />b) Summarize the program services proposed and how the program will address the chosen
<br />Town /County priority?
<br />As described in section one, the Client Services program will provide crisis intervention services to survivors of sexual
<br />violence, their loved ones, and professionals who support survivors. Our services include our 24 -Hour Help Line,
<br />support groups, workshops, and therapy referrals.
<br />Our program intersects with the Town /County priority for affordable healthcare as well as the priority for affordable
<br />housing. With regards to accessible healthcare, all of our services are free and confidential. As a free resource and with
<br />a strong agency commitment to accessibility for all, we provide crisis intervention and mental healthcare to people
<br />across all demographics in Orange County, including low- income residents who can't afford healthcare elsewhere.
<br />With regards to affordable housing, the connection between sexual violence and homelessness is well - documented,
<br />People with housing needs are more likely to experience violence and less likely to be able to afford healthcare. With
<br />our services being free, and with our location on a public bus line, our support is accessible for this high -risk population.
<br />c) Describe the local need or problem to be addressed in relation to the Consolidated Plan or
<br />other community priorities (i.e. Council /Board Goals). Cite local data to support the need for
<br />this program and the population being served.
<br />The 2010 National Intimate Partner Survey (NISVS) from the CDC found that 1 in 5 women in the United States are
<br />raped in their lifetime. It also found that nearly 1 in 2 women and 1 in 5 men experience some form of sexual violence
<br />other than rape, such as sexual coercion, unwanted touch, sexual harassment, and more. Although local crime statistics
<br />are difficult to obtain for any jurisdiction, our experience corroborates this finding and illustrates the need for sexual
<br />violence services. The OCRCC served 524 people last fiscal year. In that time, we had a total of 2,453 contacts,
<br />meaning that we saw each client an average of 4.7 times.
<br />The long -term effects of sexual violence can be profound and may include depression, anxiety, physical illness,
<br />substance abuse, eating disorders, suicidal thoughts and attempts, self- harming behaviors, and more. All of these factors
<br />can make it difficult for survivors to function on a daily basis, obtain and keep a job, and maintain safe housing. One
<br />study found that 50% of sexual assault victims lost their jobs or were forced to quit after being raped (Ellis, Atkeson, &
<br />Calhoun, 1993). Additionally, the abuse itself can cause a housing situation to become unsafe for individuals, such as
<br />when an intimate partner is the abuser. According to the Department of Justice, more than 50% of all sexual violence
<br />incidents occur at the victim's home or within one mile of their home.
<br />In terms of mental healthcare access, Mental Health America (MHA) reports that 2.6% of adults with mental illness and
<br />12.3% of children with emotional /behavioral /developmental issues in North Carolina do not have consistent health
<br />insurance. But even with insurance, mental healthcare is lacking: MHA reports that 20.2% of adults with mental illness in
<br />North Carolina said they did not get the mental health services they needed and an astounding 45.7% of children who
<br />needed mental health services in North Carolina did not receive them. With affordable therapeutic resources lacking in
<br />our community and across the nation, OCRCC is committed to providing free short- and long -term services to all who
<br />need them, regardless of income level.
<br />With regards to housing access, sexual violence and homelessness are strongly connected. One study found that 92%
<br />of homeless mothers had experienced severe physical and /or sexual violence at some point in their lives; 43% of them
<br />had experienced sexual abuse as a child (Browne & Bassuk, 1997). Furthermore, if survivors are on the verge of
<br />homelessness or become homeless, their risk for experiencing additional violence increases. According to a study of
<br />homeless and marginally housed people, 32% of women, 27% of men, and 38% of transgendered people reported
<br />either physical or sexual victimization in the previous year (Kushel et al., 2003). As the local governments work toward
<br />improving housing access, our services will be needed and will increase the likelihood of success.
<br />Main Application 1/25/2016 12:55:42 PM Page 7 of 32
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