Survivors of domestic and sexual abuse in Benton and Linn counties have been able to rely on advocates at the Center Against Rape and Domestic Violence (CARDV) for more than 38 years. CARDV has office locations in Albany, Corvallis and Lebanon to meet with survivors, and also provides support groups and confidential shelters for adults and children who are not safe anywhere else.

“Our ultimate goal is to educate the community, to raise awareness of the prevalence of domestic and sexual violence, to create change and end the abuse,” said Executive Director Letetia Wilson. “About half our clients are adults and half are children. In 2018, about half our clients were from Albany and the other half from Corvallis, but that changes year to year.”

Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center has come alongside CARDV for years with Social Accountability grants to help fund staffing at the confidential shelters, which can house up to 200 individuals a year. Without the grant, CARDV would need to cut staffing for other services in order to keep the shelters fully staffed, Wilson said.

“Samaritan plays a huge part in our shelter program,” Wilson said. “Their grants help us provide the staff who check in multiple times a day with our clients. They work with our clients on their safety plans, get them access to support services and help them rebuild their lives.”