Charlotte family justice center lands $2.5 million in federal funding
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — You never know what day will be your last.
For Rashida Gittens, that thought infiltrated her everyday life.
She quoted her abuser, “You know, if you leave, I’m going to trap you all in the house and set it on fire. I’m going to drive the car into the house,” Gittens remembers him saying.
For nine years, she and her two daughters endured abuse. At the time, Gittens tried unsuccessfully to get help.
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“I had to travel all around the county to try and get services until one day I just gave up,” she said.
She has now turned her struggle into “hope” for others, advocating, and helping to fundraise for the Umbrella Center in east Charlotte. Friday, local U.S. Reps. Jeff Jackson, and Alma Adams announced a $2.5 million commitment to the project, which when complete will be one of the largest family justice centers in the world.
“Our center will be about 85,000-95,000 square feet, and it’s going to cost close to $42 million to build,” said Laura Lawrence, President and CEO of Safe Alliance, which provides resources for domestic violence victims. “We are now over $35 million through public and private donations to build our center.”
Located on Albemarle Road, the Umbrella Center will act as a one-stop shop for victims of domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, sexual assault and human trafficking.
“It’s going to give them not only a place to go, but the people that they need to talk to,” said Adams (NC-12), “and I think it’s going to give them a bit of courage to know that they have the kind of support team behind them.”
Gittens will never forget the abuse she survived, and those dark years in her life, but knowing she’s helping the next generation get access to help is what keeps her going.
“There’s light at the end of the tunnel,” Gittens said. “There’s an umbrella, and now there’s an Umbrella Center that you can go to and be under and get all the help you can need.”
In October, the David and Nicole Tepper Foundation announced a $2 million pledge for the center.
The hope is that the Umbrella Center will officially open toward the end of next year. In the meantime, there is a survivor resource center across from CMPD headquarters in Uptown, for those who need help now. It’s located at 601 E. Fifth St.
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