WILLIMANTIC/NEW LONDON — An insurance coverage company is donating its Willimantic-based storefront to the New-London-based home violence company Secure Futures; the constructing’s sale will assist the development of a multi-purpose heart for home violence victims in Waterford.
The one-story constructing, situated at 757 Primary Road in Willimantic, was beforehand the workplaces of Sumner & Sumner insurance coverage company. Brendan Quinn and Victor Ebersole, Jr., president and vice chairman of Sumner & Sumner, mentioned in a joint assertion that they have been in a position to promote the constructing as a result of their enterprise had determined to shift completely to distant work.
“We couldn’t be prouder to companion with this glorious group and be a part of the work they’re doing,” Quinn and Ebersole mentioned within the assertion.
Kathy Verano, the CEO of Secure Futures, mentioned that the constructing has been positioned in the marketplace, and that the proceeds of the sale will kick off a capital marketing campaign to construct the Waterford-based household justice heart.
Verano defined that the household justice heart would home all the mandatory companies for a sufferer of home violence — police, prosecutors, counseling, little one care and housing companies — beneath a single roof. Presently, she mentioned, these companies are scattered throughout the area, which makes it troublesome for victims to carry their circumstances to trial.
“Say a mother with two children has to go to courtroom, then social companies, after which to right here after which to the police division … it’s inconceivable. They should take time without work of labor,” she mentioned. “So the likelihood of getting prosecution on circumstances will get smaller and smaller and smaller.”
Past making it simpler for victims to entry companies, Verano additionally mentioned that having cops, legal professionals and repair suppliers in the identical constructing makes it simpler to teach folks concerning the particular wants of home violence victims.
“It modifications the tradition of our area over time. And that’s the objective,” she mentioned.
Home violence companies throughout the state noticed a rise in victims in the course of the pandemic, and Verano mentioned the necessity continues to be excessive. Secure Futures served 9,707 purchasers in 2021, a 39 p.c enhance from the earlier yr.
The company has already bought the land for the middle — a 23,000 sq. foot former Christmas tree farm. It’s a centralized location for the company, which serves 21 cities throughout New London County.
“It’s [at] probably the most inside a half hour to each one of many 21 cities we serve,” mentioned Verano.
Verano mentioned constructing the middle, which is able to embrace a digital courtroom, forensic interview rooms and areas for kids, will value a number of million {dollars}. She mentioned she hopes to have it constructed inside two years.
Gregory Massad, vice chair of the Secure Futures Board of Administrators, mentioned the Willimantic constructing, whose sale will assist kick off their fundraising marketing campaign, has an appraised worth of over $500,000. He mentioned he hoped the donation would encourage others.
“Hopefully, it’ll spur some like-minded folks,” he mentioned. “If we will discover another beneficiant donors who can benefit from their tax scenario and assist out Secure Futures, we’d very a lot recognize it.”