The SLO Women’s Shelter was among the countless nonprofits to lose critical funding when the state budget was approved in late July. The agency, which serves local victims of domestic abuse through counseling, emergency shelter, and transitional housing programs, lost more than $200,000 in funding for the current fiscal year. It’s unknown whether that funding will be restored.

But it’s not all bad news.

Less than two weeks after the cuts were announced, the shelter received a $500,000 three-year grant through the federal stimulus program.   

Women’s Shelter Executive Director Marianne Kennedy said the shelter applied for the grant before they knew they would lose the state funding, and news of the new money came just in time. Kennedy said the grant money will be doled out over three years, and while that won’t cover the losses in state funding, it will help. Kennedy said the grant will be used for temporary housing units in South County for women leaving abusive situations, women seeking jobs, and placement in permanent housing.