Latest news with #shelter
New York Times
34 minutes ago
- Health
- New York Times
‘It Sounds Really Dire Because It Is Really Dire'
Recently, the roof started leaking in a shingled white house in Androscoggin County, Maine. The boiler also went out. There is nothing remarkable about this house, except that it shelters victims of human trafficking. At capacity, it has room for six. It is always at capacity. In years past, the organization that runs the house, Safe Voices, would have ponied up the $30,000 required to fix these issues. But the uncertainty unleashed by the Trump administration's policies made it difficult to make financial commitments like this. So all six residents and one dog piled into a minivan owned by Safe Voices and lugged their belongings in multiple trips to a 17-bed domestic violence shelter nearby, where they had to double up in rooms; the house now sits empty. The reason Rebecca Austin, the executive director at Safe Voices, could not immediately fix the roof or the boiler is that she had no idea what her organization's financial situation would be after Oct. 1 when the new fiscal year starts. Since President Trump took office, the group's federal grants have been briefly frozen, then unfrozen. Then the release of new grant applications was delayed for three months without explanation. 'No one seems to know the answers to what's going to happen and if money is actually going to come through,' she told me. Much of the federal infrastructure that supports domestic violence programs is damaged or gone. The director of the Office of Family Violence and Prevention Services was placed on administrative leave this spring. One domestic violence advocate told me her organization has gone through four points of contact at the Department of Justice since February. This chaos is happening throughout the country and is largely out of public view. While the enormous losses to science, education, development, arts, health and other areas dominate headlines, the local consequences — busted boilers, leaking roofs — are less visible. But they can be catastrophic for organizations that operate on shoestring budgets. It's what makes the Trump administration's approach to rooting out waste, fraud and diversity, equity and inclusion so maddening and brutish. Neil McLean, the district attorney in Lewiston, Maine, told me he employs one of his office's two full-time domestic violence prosecutors through a Safe Voices grant. This prosecutor is assigned to over 700 cases across one county. For context, this is more than 10 times the typical caseload of a local public defender. 'It's as bad as it sounds,' Mr. McLean said. 'This is not one of the areas where we need cuts.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Seroja Inn: a sanctuary of hope for over 300 cats
Nurul Ain Abdul Hamid, founder of Seroja Inn Home Shelter, is deeply passionate about giving sick and injured cats and dogs a second chance in life. (Fauzi Yunus @ FMT Lifestyle) SHAH ALAM : Nurul Ain Abdul Hamid was still a college student when she rescued her first cat. She had witnessed the feline being hit by a car. To her dismay, the driver had not even stopped to check on the animal. Ain was not able to walk away when she saw how much pain the cat was in. She immediately rushed it to a veterinary clinic, and later reached out to a rescuer who took the cat in after it was discharged. This marked the beginning of Ain's journey into the world of animal rescue. In 2012, she founded Seroja Inn (SI) Home Shelter with her family. Today, the shelter in Shah Alam houses over 300 cats – but not just any cats. 'We focus on those that are sick, especially those in critical condition – for instance, cats with feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). FIV is similar to HIV in humans,' Ain explained. 'There is no cure for FeLV and FIV. We will care for these cats for the rest of their lives, as it is hard to find adopters for them.' They also take in cats with parvovirus, feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), fungal infections such as sporotrichosis, and those injured in accidents. 'We will treat these cats until they are healthy. Once they recover, we will spay or neuter and vaccinate them, then put them up for adoption.' Can you tell that these adorable cats are eagerly waiting for food? (Fauzi Yunus @ FMT Lifestyle) Most of these cats live in a three-storey shoplot, while senior cats and those that are completely blind are cared for in Ain's own home. Taking FMT Lifestyle around the shelter, Ain, 32, shared that the first floor is primarily designated for cats undergoing treatment, which is why they are kept in cages here. Meanwhile, the second floor is home to healthy cats that are ready for adoption. Over 20 paralysed cats also live here. 'The third floor is where we quarantine new arrivals for at least two weeks before spaying, neutering and vaccinating them,' Ain pointed out, adding that most of these cats are her own personal rescues. Her compassion for animals also extends to dogs. Her late father, she revealed, had been a fellow animal lover who would also rescue canines. She recalls rescuing her first dog in Melaka after hearing it had been unable to walk and had remained in the same spot for days. Ain brought the dog to a veterinary clinic, where it received much-needed treatment. The felines charmed the FMT Lifestyle team with their catty antics. (Fauzi Yunus @ FMT Lifestyle) Today, SI Home Shelter also has 11 dogs in its care. Asked about her views about dogs in the context of her religious beliefs, she replied: 'In Islam, we can perform the 'sertu', a cleansing ritual done seven times. 'As a Muslim, I've never neglected my religious obligations just because I care for dogs. I pray, and I know how to purify myself.' Challenges and fulfilment Running a shelter is not for the weak-hearted: it's a commitment that calls for unwavering dedication, emotional resilience, and significant financial resources. Ain said the shelter's monthly operational costs exceed RM20,000, which cover food, cat litter, rent, staff salaries, utilities, and veterinary expenses. While it largely depends on public donations, Ain and her husband also contribute out of their own pockets. Her husband runs his own business, while Ain juggles a part-time clerical job and a small business selling handmade items such as toys. They also have a nine-year-old son with special needs. These shelter residents have found a place of safety, healing and love. (Fauzi Yunus @ FMT Lifestyle) Despite the many challenges, Ain remains steadfast in her mission. 'Once I stepped into the world of animal rescue, there was no turning back. These cats are my responsibility, and I can't abandon them.' For her, fulfilment comes in witnessing an animal's recovery after receiving proper care. 'I am happiest when they eventually find a new family,' she concluded. Connect with Nurul Ain on Instagram. To make a donation or adopt a furry friend, send a WhatsApp message to 013-513 1833.
CTV News
2 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Canadian Red Cross offering shelter, transportation for wildfire evacuees
Watch Melanie Solar of the Canadian Red Cross on the accommodations that are offered to wildfire evacuees such as congregate shelter sites, food and transpiration.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Animal Protective League rescues 72 animals
The Ashtabula County Animal Protective League recently rescued 72 animals after receiving a tip from a concerned person. APL Shelter Director Diane King said the tip brought them to a property in Ashtabula, where they recovered 44 animals May 15. The APL and its humane officer was assisted by the Ashtabula Police Department's animal control officer, King said. The county humane agent works with the APL and has the authority to enforce provisions of the Ohio Revised Code relating to animal cases. King said they got a tip the property owner had a second home outside the city, which they responded to May 27. 'We removed another 28 animals,' she said. King said she could say where the second property was located. The 72 rescued animals consisted of 69 cats and three dogs. 'We are trying to work with other shelters, rescues, anybody that's able to pull animals from us at this time would be helpful,' she said. King has been the shelter director for around a month, she said. 'I've been involved with working with animals for 25 years,' she said. 'I came from Trumbull County as the Chief Humane Officer and Program and Outreach Director. So, I have a pretty extensive background in animal care, and cruelty and neglect [cases].' King described the conditions she saw during the recent rescue. 'Entering a home like that, it's difficult to navigate,' she said. 'It was dark and you're hit with an overwhelming smell of fecal ammonia. Your eyes burn. Your throat burns. We had to wear respirators. You're walking on uneven ground, because there's several inches of urine and feces caked throughout the entire home.' King said the floor was squishy beneath her feet because of all the urine and feces. Animal hoarding houses have a distinct and overwhelming smell, she said. 'You typically see a lot of flies outside,' she said. 'You can smell it on the front porch.' King said Ohio residents who want to leave a tip about a property they suspect of hoarding animals can reach out to the county humane society. 'A lot of cat hoarding cases, sometimes it's due to mental illness, but other times it's due to a population explosion,' she said. 'It's very important that you spay and neuter your animals.' People can learn about mobile clinics available through and 'They are traveling [spay and neuter] clinics,' she said. 'They're able to look up different dates and locations.'
CBC
3 days ago
- General
- CBC
Zack's Crib homeless shelter in Temiskaming region closing its doors at end of May
An overnight homeless shelter in the Temiskaming Shores, Ont. area is closing its doors on May 31, citing a decrease in demand for safe beds. Zack's Crib in New Liskeard was founded in 2018 by two local fathers in honour of their sons who struggled with mental health, homelessness, and addiction. The pair wanted to establish a facility for the community's vulnerable population to have a safe spot to spend the night and have access to food, laundry, and wrap-around social services support through community partners. The shelter, which was built through community partnerships and fundraising, officially opened its doors in December 2023 with 12 beds. In a social media statement earlier this month, Zack's Crib co-founder Yves Paillé announced the shelter's upcoming closure. "Zack's Crib began as a vision, made possible through seven years of unwavering community support and dedicated fundraising. As of May 31, 2025, Zack's Crib will be closing its doors at 183 Broadwood," the statement said. "Words cannot fully express our gratitude for your support—support that helped provide a safe space for those in our community who needed it most. We remain committed to advocating for our most vulnerable." Paillé wrote that current clients have been offered support services, and an endowment fund is being created with the Temiskaming Foundation for the shelter's remaining money to be put into and go toward ongoing assistance for the homeless population. "It's a little disappointing," said Temiskaming Shores mayor Jeff Laferrière of the closure. "A lot of volunteers put a lot of work and effort in to see Zack's Crib come to fruition. And I think that they did an amazing job." Laferrière said he believes the organization was experiencing some operational and fundraising challenges, which may have contributed to its closure. He added the municipality and the District of Timiskaming Social Services Administration Board (DTSSAB), which is a funding partner of Zack's Crib, are in discussions to possibly reopen the shelter in the future. "We are in discussions with them to see, you know, what we can do collaboratively to make sure that Zack's Crib opens up again and whether it's a shelter or whether it's something else," said Laferrière. In a statement to CBC News, the DTSSAB said the decision to close Zack's Crib was made independently by the shelter's board of directors. "It's important to understand that while the closure of one agency impacts the network, it does not mean the entire system collapses," the statement read in part.
