County and Crossroads seek up to $950,000 in federal grant for human-trafficking victims
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
County staff and Crossroads representatives said they will partner on a victim-centered human-trafficking grant application with a potential award of up to $950,000 to support safe housing, legal assistance and mental-health services; Crossroads expects to provide matching resources.
Alamance County staff told commissioners they will partner with Crossroads, a long‑standing local nonprofit, to pursue a federal human‑trafficking grant that could award up to $950,000 over 36 months.
A county presenter said Crossroads already has some funds to meet matching requirements; Meredith Pefley, executive director of Crossroads, described the agency’s role in anti‑trafficking work (including the Anti Human Trafficking Advocacy Council) and said the grant would fund specialized services such as safe housing, legal assistance and mental‑health care for victims.
Pefley noted Crossroads’ local partnerships — including the sheriff’s office and municipal jurisdictions — and said county matching dollars are important for competitive federal applications. Commissioners asked whether county budgeted funds (the presenter referenced a recurring $75,000 line in the budget) would be part of the match; Crossroads said that amount would be a minimum part of the local match.
Questions from the board and public focused on aftercare and shelter differences between domestic-violence shelters and victim-centered trafficking services. Crossroads representatives emphasized the need for long-term, trauma-informed services and community coordination.
No vote was taken; Crossroads and county staff said they would proceed with the application and return to the board as needed for matching-fund approvals or further action.