Domestic Violence Victim Speaks Out About Horrific Conditions at South Florida Shelter Prior

Former Heads of Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Tiffany Carr and Patricia Duante, Arrested and Charged Grand Theft, Fraud and Official Misconduct Felonies After Syphoning Funds Designated for 42 Florida Domestic Violence Shelters

By Kristen Hernandez

Pompano Beach, FL – Koreen Nottage huddled in a dark corner with just enough lighting to record a clandestine Instagram video. Her hands visibly shook as she detailed horrific conditions and allegations of drugs and staff retaliation from employees at Florida domestic violence shelter, Safe Space in Miami.

Nottage spoke softly to not be overheard by lurking staff. She described how women were stacked together, five to each dorm in filthy rooms infested with dust and mildew. She told of drug use where Nottage slept with her 3-year-old daughter and bullying and retaliation from staff abusing their authority.

“When I took that video, I was genuinely scared that if I got caught, staff would take their anger out on me and my daughter,” said Nottage, during a phone call with Villij News. “I was already terrified that my ex would find us because we had left our home with just the clothes on our backs. But I had to do something about what was happening here at Safe Space because my concerns were flat out ignored. That facility should have been our refuge.”

Nottage reached out to Villij News after her Instagram video went viral, and just three weeks before the former heads of the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence (FCADV), Tiffany Carr, 54, and Patricia Duante, 57, were arrested and charged with fraud, grand theft, and official misconduct. The coalition had overseen the disbursement of more than $52 million annually in private and government grant funding designated for all 42 Florida domestic violence shelters.

But in 2020, state officials began to suspect fraud and launched an investigation that resulted in a civil lawsuit against Carr, Duante and FCADV. Carr was ordered to repay $2.1 million dollars of the funds. Shortly after, the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence was dramatically dismantled when Govenor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 1087 into law, which severed the state contract with FCADV. The coalition was dissolved by Leon County Circuit Court Judge Ronald Flury in March of 2020, and its operations were transferred to Department of Children and Families.

When Carr’s arrest was announced last month, Florida Attorney General, Ashley Moody said in a scathing statement, “These officials were entrusted to run an organization to assist those seeking a safe haven from abuse. Instead of ensuring state funds went to help those in need, they schemed together to steal more than $3.7 million for grossly inflated salaries and vacations. We previously took civil action to rid the organizations bad management, and now we are filing criminal charges against these former officials.”

Nottage initially reported her complaints to shelter staff in May, which resulted in bullying and retaliation. She then initiated emails to the mayor’s office, DCF, and local authorities. All her correspondence went ignored and unanswered.

“Safety is an issue here as a result of the surrounding areas high drug activity and lack of law enforcement presence,” said Nottage in her emails. “I have been followed as I walked with my daughter

from the bus stop to the shelter. Can we have more of a police presence on the block encompassing the shelter?”

Nottage also listed other issues such as the Victims Re-Housing Program’s dried up funding after the rent threshold was raised to market value, the same funding which ended up in Carr’s pocket. After staff caught wind of her complaints, Nottage described staff retaliation in the form of denied services and withheld transportation, which is typically provided by the shelters.

“There are two [city] vehicles available here that remain parked in the same spot without being used. I am forced to spend $300 weekly on Ubers to get from my daughters’ day care to work on time. My advocate has been informed of my situation, and simply encourages me to save money where I can,” Nottage wrote. “The free bus passes are often depleted.”

Nottage detailed the behavior of shelter staff members charged with caring for battered individuals desperately seeking safety and security. Nottage accused staff of preferential treatment of participants and having an “pack-like, us against them” mentality.

“We want accountability of participants potentially taking advantage of the shelter, but particularly for staff,” Nottage wrote. “They must be professionally re-evaluated on their capabilities to empathize and advocate properly for victims that need help through this difficult time. There is always a shortage of staff on the weekends, and I’m usually denied transportation due to policy.”

A month after her numerous emails went unanswered by the mayor’s office, Nottage attempted to reach out again to her case advocate to report a new and much more concerning issue.

“I’m reaching out again to reiterate that drugs were found in my room, documented on video, and no investigation was done. My two roommates might be drug addicts and need help. It is not okay to subject a toddler to a known drug environment. They left a candle jar with incense to burn while they smoke dope, which is also documented on video. Safety measures have completely been disregarded. Staff have created an unsafe and hostile environment. Supervisors were shown the drugs I found in my room, and my confidentiality was breached. An altercation ensued and a police report was filed. Staff have jeopardized the safety of me and my child.”

Nottage wasn’t the only domestic violence victim to speak out about lack of funding and abuse from staff at Safe Space.

Victim Topeka Powell reached out to Villij News from inside the shelter and explained how staff refused to help when her car broke down, and she was denied re-housing assistance after complaining. Powell alleged she was also denied a $500 request for an apartment rental after she was told funding was available.

After Nottage discovered the scope and depth of the scheme and how scarce government funds ended up in the pockets of Carr and Duante, her reply summed it up.

“That’s just disgusting and that doesn’t surprise me at all.”