Kim Deugan

Kim Deugan, a domestic violence survivor, is the executive director of Advocates Against Family Violence, which offers one of the only domestic violence shelters in the Treasure Valley and has served more than 1,000 people this year.

The organization operates with little funding and is looking to move its shelter to a newer facility. The current shelter is a 100-year-old building in Caldwell that doesn’t have enough space to meet the need Deugan sees. She said on an average day there is a waitlist between 15 to 30 people long.

“We need to at least double our space to get rid of our waitlist,” Deugan said. “And I don’t even know that that will literally eliminate the waitlist.”

The staff — most of whom are domestic violence survivors like Deugan — are underpaid, but under Deugan’s leadership, they have provided services and education to thousands in the state.

Recently, Advocates Against Family Violence received about $13,000 in two grants from the Idaho Community Foundation to provide sexual abuse prevention training and to help domestic violence victims coordinate preschool costs for more than 250 children.

Kim Deugan, executive director of Advocates Against Family Violence, gives an update on the organization during an Aug. 24 luncheon.

Chris Bronson/IPT

Kim Deugan, executive director of Advocates Against Family Violence, gives an update on the organization during an Aug. 24 luncheon.

Chris Bronson/IPT