ROBERTSDALE, Ala. – A pair of grants totaling over $200,000, issued recently will benefit the Baldwin County Family Violence Project, otherwise known as The Lighthouse of Baldwin County.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available by the U.S. Justice Department and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Gov. Robert Bentley awarded grants totaling $461,021 to ensure abuse victims in 11 southwest Alabama counties have a safe place to turn during a time of need, according to a press release issued Friday.

Two grants totaling $213,519, will benefit The Lighthouse, “to offer safe shelter, a 24-hour crisis hotline, counseling and other assistance to domestic violence and rape victims in Baldwin and Escambia counties.

In a statement issued as part of the press release, Bentley said, “Abuse is a crime that devastates lives and families. Fortunately, the professionals and volunteers at these organizations help victims take the first steps in recovering and rebuilding their lives.”

According to The Lighthouse’s website, www.abeacon.org, the organization based in Robertsdale, opened in 1994 and “ is committed to providing support, preventing violence and promoting justice for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.”

In addition to shelter, the crisis line and counseling services, The Lighthouse offers case management, court advocacy services, advocacy for children and prevention education, according to the group’s website.

Jerry Sommer, executive director for The Lighthouse, said the grants will primarily provide funding for the organization’s residential and non-residential domestic violence and sexual assault programs.

“The grants will provide funding to pay salaries for our staff and other expenses for those services,” she said. “In order to provide direct services it takes people. We are always in need of funding to provide services and we are grateful to receive whatever funding we can to meet our needs.”

The Lighthouse is a non-discriminatory, equal opportunity agency, partially supported by the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, Victims of Crime Act, Violence Against Women Act, Department of Public Health, U.S. Department of Housing and Development, and the Baldwin County United Way.

The Lighthouse is a member of the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Alabama Coalition Against Sexual Violence.

Both grants require a 20 percent match by The Lighthouse, Sommer said.

In addition to The Lighthouse grants, two grants totaling $151,407 were issued to Harriet’s House assisting domestic violence victims in Choctaw, Clarke, Greene, Marengo and Sumter counties. The organization operates a 16-bed shelter in Marengo County and provides a 24-hour crisis hotline, transportation assistance and support groups for victims.

The Escambia County Regional Child Advocacy Center will also use a $47,295 grant to assist child abuse victims in Conecuh, Escambia and Monroe counties. The center, a partnership of local law enforcement and community agencies, provides a coordinated response to claims of child abuse.

A $48,800 grant is helping the Regional Child Advocacy Program continue its Victim Advocacy Program in Choctaw, Clarke and Washington counties. The program provides an advocate to guide victims and their families through the criminal justice process and offers counseling services.