HARRISBURG, Pa. — On Tuesday, Governor Tom Wolf announced the Alice Paul House, a domestic violence shelter in Indiana County, will triple in size to meet a critical community need using new state funding.

“I’m especially proud to provide funding to expand staff and services to the Alice Paul House,” Governor Wolf said. “Supporting victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in a safe, spacious shelter can aid in recovery while we work to reduce the incidence of these heinous crimes.”

The Alice Paul House was awarded a $1.75 million grant to expand its Indiana facility by constructing a new domestic violence shelter with supportive services and administrative offices. The construction will increase the organization’s facilities from 5,000 square feet to 15,100 square feet and increase the number of shelter beds from 12 to 18. Necessary infrastructure and security upgrades, including energy efficiency improvements, will also be completed as part of the project.

“Serving both domestic violence and sexual assault victims, the Alice Paul House is the only community program in Indiana County that provides vital services for those in dire need, and often have nowhere else to turn,” Majority Leader David Reed said. “With numerous problems from a collapsed ceiling to overcrowding, we are glad the governor appreciates the need for state funds to help provide the safe and welcoming environment these people deserve. The Alice Paul House is a lifeline to some, it’s what sometimes stands between victims and further harm.”

The Alice Paul House is the only domestic violence shelter serving Indiana County victims. The organization also provides services to adult and juvenile sexual assault victims. In addition to mitigating an overcrowding issue in the shelter, the expansion will allow the organization to increase its staff size by 10, which will allow for more outreach and services across the county.

Supported through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) program, funding will support critical expansion projects, some of which will provide opportunities for additional economic development.