Faye Purdy has been waiting and working a long time for a building in Davis County to which battered women and children can go for safety and support.
So Friday was a good day for her: With a broad smile on her face and about 50 people looking on, Purdy - along with other dignitaries - broke ground with gold shovels for the as-yet-unnamed family resource center at 570 N. Main.It's been a long fight for the chairwoman of the Davis Citizens Coalition Against Violence - fighting for recognition of the problem of battered women, fighting for funding and fighting those who didn't want the shelter in their neighborhood.
Adjacent landowners appealed the Planning Commission's decision to allow the center's construction to the City Council last summer, but the effort ultimately failed.
"Kaysville City, we can't thank you enough for allowing us here," said Rep. Marda Dillree, R-Farmington, a strong supporter of the center. "The escalation of crime in our community is really just an extension of what our children are seeing in our homes and communities."
When complete, the $1.6 million center will contain 36 beds for women and children who are victims of domestic violence. The coalition has received funding from various sources, including community block grants, the state Legislature, nearby cities, social clubs, churches and individuals, but the center is not yet fully funded.
"Our job is not over," Dillree said.
The coalition is currently operating out of the office of the Davis County attorney, which pro-vides meeting space and helps find free legal help for victims of domestic violence.
Last year the coalition helped 2,000 victims, which is an indication of how much a permanent center is needed, said coalition vice chairwoman Ellen Archibald.
"We have been tremendously successful," she said at the groundbreaking ceremony.
Much local and national interest has been focused on victims of domestic violence of late, including a videotape and accompanying program Utah Attorney General Jan Graham has been circulating through Utah communities.
"We've made this area of the law a great priority in our office," said Chief Deputy Attorney General Reed Richards. "All of us have seen families deteriorate, and the reason they're deteriorating is because we don't have enough centers like this one."