ARISE Sexual Assault Services pleads for funding

Tawnya Burton with ARISE Sexual Assault Services made a passionate plea to Roosevelt County commissioners Thursday in hopes to secure funding for a new building to house their services.

Burton along with other ARISE employees attended the Community Development Block Grant hearing at the Roosevelt County Courthouse, an opportunity for community members to pitch 2013 CDBG project ideas. The ARISE staff was the only group to present a project idea to the commission, which applies for the federal grant that aids rural municipalities.

According to Burton, ARISE worked with 120 clients last year, with about 70 percent of them were children. ARISE is an extension of Roosevelt General Hospital but is funded through grants.

Burton said ideally they are looking for a building about 3,000-square-feet to fit an exam and evidence room.

She added that location requirements include being close to the hospital since they use RGH facilities, while having the security of the campus but also protecting the privacy of victims.

ARISE was forced to relocated in October after its building on Avenue O incurred flood damage, Burton said..

"I started with a medical bag and a 35 millimeter camera," said Burton about ARISE's beginnings. "Now we've evolved into two offices and we are leading the state of New Mexico for service recovery."

Burton stressed the need for such services in the area and gaining the county commissioners' support will make their argument more favorable. The project will eventually be presented to the CDBG Board, who will then decide what projects to approve. CDBG is a state program.

The CDBG Program is used to assist communities in providing essential facilities, decent housing for residents and promoting economic development, according to Roosevelt County staff.

Applications are limited to a maximum of $500,000 per project. RGH spokeswoman Amber Hamilton said ARISE's estimated project cost would be well-under the maximum limit, estimating the project cost to be near or around $300,000.

Roosevelt County Manager Charlene Webb expressed concern about their project not following the CDBG grant criteria but pointed out that if they can prove they benefit people of low and moderate income, they have a shot.

"The potential is definitely there," Webb said, encouraging them to attend the next hearing.

Burton said they tend to serve those in need but they do not discriminate in who they serve, adding that it makes it more difficult to put a number value to certain demographics.

"We have a lot of kids who come from economic disadvantaged households," Burton said.

Hamilton and Burton agreed to work on collecting those demographics for the next public hearing.

"You folks got my support," said County Commissioner Jake Lopez and CDBG Board member, expressing he felt their presence is necessary in Roosevelt County.