Political Quotes

“It is my honor to recognize LACASA, a nonprofit in my community that has stood out as a beacon of hope for thousands of vulnerable women and children in mid-Michigan. In 1979, LACASA was founded as the Livingston Area Council Against Spousal Abuse. With just $40 in donations and a part-time director at a desk in a borrowed office space, the organization first relied entirely on volunteers, selfless local residents who opened up their own homes so that survivors of domestic violence could find refuge. Later on, as it grew, LACASA was able to rent, then buy, and finally expand to a permanent shelter where women and children can access counseling services, legal advocacy, and wraparound support. In addition to sanctuary, LACASA offers 24-hour crisis response with trained staff who are able to intake and serve the diverse needs of survivors of child abuse, domestic abuse, and sexual assault. For so many in our community, the folks at LACASA are directly responsible for giving them the tools and strength to begin the road toward a better future. However, pandemics don't stop abusers. In fact, when outside stressors occur, abuse historically tends to escalate. So when shelter- in-place orders took effect last year, closing LACASA and its around- the-clock facility was not an option. Record numbers of victims seeking help and refuge contacted them, and their ability to adapt is nothing short of heroic.…”