LAUREN FLAUM
Monticello Times
A $5,000 grant awarded to Rivers of Hope will help provide emergency assistance for local families fleeing domestic violence, as advocates say rising housing and living costs are making it harder for survivors to leave abusive situations.
The funding, awarded through the Open Your Heart to the Hungry and
Homeless Foundation, will support Rivers of Hope, a nonprofit organization
serving survivors of domestic violence in Wright and Sherburne counties.
The $5,000 grant is expected to directly assist about 10 families through Rivers
of Hope’s direct client assistance program, which serves roughly 182 people
annually.
“The funds will go to supporting our youth and families dealing with fleeing
domestic violence situations in Wright and Sherburne Counties,” Rivers of Hope
Executive Director Kalleah Kennedy said. The organization said the funding can help cover emergency needs such as temporary lodging, food, transportation, cell phones and other immediate expenses that often arise when survivors leave unsafe situations.
Kennedy said Rivers of Hope has seen increasing need tied to housing
instability, higher living costs and more complex cases.
Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless, a Minnesota-based nonprofit
foundation, provides grants to food shelves, shelters and domestic violence
programs throughout the state. According to the foundation, Rivers of Hope also received Community Impact Partner funding in 2025.
Foundation representatives said rising costs for housing, transportation and
food can create additional barriers for people trying to leave abusive relationships, particularly when survivors are uncertain whether they can afford independent living.
In one recent example shared by Open Your Heart, grant funding helped a survivor and her two children secure emergency lodging, food and a cell phone after fleeing escalating violence. The family was later able to transition into stable housing.
For more information about Rivers of Hope, visit riversofhope.org.
© Elk River Star News
