Local nonprofit funds crisis center to expand survivor support
Crisis center expands services with $963,000 community investment
– Must! Charities has announced a $963,000 partnership with Lumina Alliance to expand services, improve infrastructure, and support survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence in San Luis Obispo County.
The initiative aims to strengthen financial and organizational stability, enhance client services, expand bilingual programs, upgrade the crisis line, and increase housing capacity for individuals and families fleeing violence.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 41% of San Luis Obispo County residents are projected to experience sexual violence in their lifetime. In 2023, law enforcement received 774 reports of intimate partner violence, though many cases go unreported. The county’s high cost of living, housing scarcity, and limited mental health resources contribute to the need for expanded support services.
In the past year, Lumina Alliance provided more than 4,200 therapy sessions to 322 clients, 18% of whom were children or teens. The organization also sheltered 171 survivors, including 70 children, in its emergency shelters and supported 40 clients, including 25 children, in its transitional housing program. A total of 1,366 survivors and their loved ones received services, with a focus on marginalized populations, Spanish-speaking survivors, and individuals with disabilities.
The partnership with Must! Charities is expected to help Lumina Alliance meet the rising demand for services, reduce therapy wait times, particularly for Spanish-speaking clients, and expand its capacity to serve more survivors.
“I’ll never forget the moment she lifted her child into her arms after the court victory,” a Lumina Alliance advocate said, recalling a survivor’s experience. “She told us she couldn’t have done it without our support.”
The survivor and her child have since secured stable housing and are rebuilding their lives.
“The commitment and resources provided through this collaboration will enhance Lumina Alliance’s ability to adapt, grow, and meet the needs of those they serve,” said Randy Gray, director of community investments for Must! Charities. “Together, we’re building a foundation for change that will ripple throughout the community.”
