Gov. Walker announces domestic abuse investments

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State money will go toward two domestic abuse resources in Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker announced Wednesday.

The state capital fund will contribute $560,000 toward the construction of a new Domestic Abuse Intervention Service Center shelter in Madison, representatives of that agency and Walker announced.

Shannon Barry, executive director of the agency, said that amount will constitute 10 percent of the money needed to complete the project. She said the new shelter will be on Fordem Avenue in Madison. The project will reuse the existing part of the structure and add a new section that will contain 56 beds divided among four bedrooms.

DAIS plans to move all of its services, programs and management staff to the new site, according to a news release.

Speaking at the current DAIS shelter Wednesday, Walker said, “There is growing attention to the need (for the shelter) and a growing commitment, in this case from the public sector, in the hopes that others form the private sector will step up and donate a similar amount.”

Walker also announced the state will invest $10.6 million to partner with Children’s Hospital and the Sojourner Family Peace Center on the Family Justice Center project in Milwaukee to provide services and shelter to families. According to a news release, the facility will be the nation’s first complete colocation of a child advocacy center with a family justice center.