Family Life Center Safe House outlines services, seeks special-alcohol-tax funding

Angela McClure, executive director of the Family Life Center Safe House in El Dorado, told the Andover City Council the agency has operated about 35 years and has expanded beyond emergency shelter into outreach, prevention education, court advocacy and rapid rehousing programs (attendance at the presentation and Q&A at the meeting).

McClure said the agency provides a trauma-informed police-response advocate who can accompany survivors at the scene, offers court advocacy for protection orders and criminal cases, and runs rapid rehousing assistance (deposits and up to three months’ rent plus utility and transportation help). She said some HUD funding supports stabilization services and noted the agency submitted an application for special-alcohol-tax funding to support its work.

McClure described the agency’s education efforts — age-appropriate school presentations on safe adults and body autonomy — and said the Family Life Center serves a multi-county region: Butler County was the original target area and, in the last four years, the agency has added Greenwood, Elk and Chautauqua counties, and helps people from across the state. Council members thanked her for the service; staff and council asked logistical questions about service area and school outreach and received answers about the agency’s statewide coalition accreditation and willingness to work with local schools.

No formal city funding action was taken during the meeting; McClure said she would be available for follow-up and provided contact details.