(Joplin, MO) – Lafayette House has been awarded a $3,000 grant from the Joy Spiva Cragin Charitable Trust to address a critical infrastructure need affecting the domestic violence shelter’s residential facility. The funding will support professional maintenance of air handling units that provide heating and cooling to families seeking safety from domestic violence.
The urgent need arose when one of Lafayette House’s HVAC systems on the emergency shelter floor failed completely earlier this fall, revealing that twelve air handling units serving the emergency shelter floors had severely clogged coils and blower wheels. The blockage was restricting airflow so dramatically that families could not receive adequate heating or cooling in their rooms. With winter approaching, ensuring proper climate control is essential for maintaining safe, comfortable shelter conditions for vulnerable residents who have already experienced trauma.
The Joy Spiva Cragin Charitable Trust grant will enable Lafayette House to hire Rouse Sheet Metal, a trusted contractor, to professionally clean the twelve units. “This grant represents exactly the kind of support that keeps our doors open for those who need us most,” said Eli Moran, Chief Strategy Officer at Lafayette House. “When you are fleeing domestic violence, you deserve more than just a roof over your head. You deserve a safe, comfortable environment where you can begin healing. Proper climate control is not a luxury; it is a fundamental aspect of providing dignified shelter to women, men, and children in crisis.”
The Director of Facility Operations added, “We are deeply grateful to the Joy Spiva Cragin Charitable Trust for recognizing the vital role that facility infrastructure plays in our mission. This professional cleaning will restore proper ventilation and heating, improve air quality for our residents, reduce energy costs, and help ensure system reliability during the coldest months ahead. The Trust’s support enables us to provide the specialized maintenance our aging equipment requires, giving us confidence that we can maintain comfortable, safe conditions for the families who depend on us. This partnership truly makes a difference in our ability to serve survivors effectively.”
Last year, Lafayette House provided 5,382 shelter nights to 515 domestic violence survivors. The organization’s maintenance team works tirelessly to maintain the facility, but specialized HVAC work requires professional expertise and equipment. The grant from the Joy Spiva Cragin Charitable Trust allows Lafayette House to focus resources on direct client services while maintaining the infrastructure that makes those services possible.
The Joy Spiva Cragin Charitable Trust was established in 1989 and is managed by Southwest Missouri Bank Trust Services. The Selection Committee distributes funds for charitable purposes to organizations that primarily operate in the Joplin and southwest Missouri area, supporting a wide range of community needs.
About Lafayette House:
Lafayette House is a private non-profit organization serving adults, children, and families experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, and/or substance use disorders. The organization serves 1,200 people each year from a seven-county area in southwest Missouri.
Reference:
Chelsea Conley, Development Director
Lafayette House
417.782.1772
chelseaconley@lafayettehouse.org
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