City Partners with Middle Way House On Domestic Violence Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 28, 2008

Fore more information, please contact:
Lisa Abbott, HAND Director, City of Bloomington, 349-3576
Danny Lopez, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349-CITY, lopezd@bloomington.in.gov

City Partners with Middle Way House On Domestic Violence Program

Bloomington, IN - The City of Bloomington has granted $196,765 to Middle Way House for the development of six one-bedroom apartments in the historic Coca Cola Building in downtown Bloomington. The renovated apartments will house women and children directly impacted by domestic abuse.

Since 2005, the City's Housing and Neighborhood Development Department (HAND) has partnered with Middle Way House, a nationally recognized community organization. One core aspect of the Middle Way mission is to generate local affordable housing options for victims, and HAND's administrative and programming support in funding these projects through the Bloomington Urban Enterprise Association and the Community Development Block Grants has fostered the successful services that Middle Way has provided.

"This collaborative approach has become an important tool in maximizing the resources for addressing needs in the community, and the affordable housing partnership project is one of the clearest illustrations of the effectiveness of these alliances," said Mayor Mark Kruzan.

The Bloomington City Council has also been a strong proponent of the program and has long supported it and similar projects.

"Council members are acutely aware of community need and have actively supported exactly this kind of funding," said City Council President Susan Sandberg. "We're proud to be a part of the process."

The project represents a partnership between the City and one of the most successful domestic violence programs in the country. For nearly 20 years the Middle Way House has taken a unique approach to supporting victims by not only providing them with affordable housing, but helping them to find living-wage jobs as well. As a result of the organization's efforts, the Department of Justice designated it a "National Model" program, one of only a small handful with that honor in the entire country.

The relationship with Middle Way House is only one example of the many ones that the City of Bloomington has forged with community organizations to find joint solutions to challenges. City departments often partner with local groups on important projects in the community, sometimes providing financial support while other times offering staffing or communications assistance.

"One of the major initiatives for the City is Community Collaboration, the fostering and forming of partnerships with local groups that help address the needs of our community," said Lisa Abbott, Director of HAND for the City. "We are proud that our financial and staff support has assisted the Middle Way House in helping victims of domestic violence here in Bloomington get their lives back on track."

For more information, please contact Abbott at 349-3576.

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