Someplace Safe Shelter closing its doors in Fergus Falls

Fergus Falls, MN (WDAY TV) -- "Someplace Safe" was established in Fergus Falls in 1979. Now, its 24 hour shelter for battered women and children will be closing it's doors September 30th due to lost funding.

Lorri Ibach - Shelter Manager: "Devastated, to be honest. Nobody expected this to happen."

Lorri Ibach has worked at Someplace Safe for 7 years, and has been shelter manager for two. She is one of ten employees who will lose their jobs come September 30.

Lorri Ibach: "Everybody has, you know, different things they're looking at, there are some positions open and I'm not really sure how everybody is going to fit into the puzzle."

Ibach works one on one with the women in need. She says losing the shelter is not only hard for her and her co-workers, but the women who benefit from the much needed help.

Lorri Ibach: "People are just concerned they are not going to have a place to go, but it is nice to know there are several other shelters within an hour drive from here, so we are just reassuring people, and that our offices are still open."

Although the shelter is closing, Someplace Safe's downtown location will remain open, and will continue providing emergency services for women in need.

Becki Jordan - Director of Development: "As far as victims in need of emergency housing, we will continue operating our hotel motel program."

Director of development Becki Jordan says Someplace Safe is ran off of State dollars and this year the state switched to a competitive funding style. The organization lost out to other organizations also seeking funding.

Becki Jordan: "All the programs throughout the state had to compete for a lump sum of funding."

Jordan says without the nearly 300 thousand dollar grant the shelter can't stay open. It costs about 350 thousand dollars to operate annually.

Becki Jordan: "It's 24 hour staffing, and it's maintaining a home, and all of the expenses that come with that, and then client needs, food, personal care items, clothing."

Both Ibach and Jordan say even with this closure they will do whatever it takes to make sure women seeking help will get the assistance they need.

The shelter building will still be used by Someplace Safe.

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