|
Seeking
Sanctuary |
Domestic violence shelters across Connecticut are asking
the legislature for something most of us probably believe they already
possess: funding to provide 24-hour a day protection for women threatened by
spousal or partner abuse. In reality, only a very few shelters have the
staffing to provide such assistance, and even those facilities struggle to
raise enough private donations to keep things going.
“We have an obligation to help all victims of domestic violence in this
state,” said Lisa Holden, executive director of the Connecticut Coalition
Against Domestic Violence (CCADV), “and when we close our shelter doors at
the end of the day and tell (victims) to call us if there’s a problem, we
are not fulfilling our obligation to keep them safe.”
In the past fiscal year, Connecticut’s 18 domestic violence shelter programs
helped 53,000 victims, including shelter services for 1,926 women and their
kids. In addition to emergency shelter, the programs offer hotline help,
social and legal services, safety planning, transportation, and education.
Many shelters currently have enough staffing for a modified daytime schedule
and must use a variety of strategies to provide protective measures
throughout the night and on weekends. The shelter network seeks about $2.5
million in new state funding to insure 24-hour staffing resources.
At a recent State Capitol news conference, a woman who identified herself
only as “Brenda” detailed her experience in seeking help against domestic
violence. Brenda said she felt “scared, lost, and skeptical” that coming to
a women’s center was the right course for her. She was helped at a
Connecticut facility that did have round-the-clock staffing and counseling.
“Without the 24-hour staffing I don’t know if I could have gotten through
things on my own,” Brenda said. “I finally felt that someone understood me
and knew how I felt.”
House Speaker James Amann (D-Milford) promised to push for the needed new
funding during this year’s legislative session. “One of the most important
responsibilities of government is to lend a helping hand to our most
vulnerable citizens,” Amann said. “If a victim of domestic violence has
nowhere to turn in a traumatic time of need, then shame on us,” he added.
Amann noted that abusive husbands, boyfriends, and other partners, don’t
manage their anger on a “9-to-5 schedule,” and that nights and
weekends often are prime time for violent outbursts and acts against women
and children.
State Rep. Denise Merrill (D-Mansfield), co-chair of the legislature’s
budget-writing Appropriations Committee, also promised to work for the extra
funding for shelters. “During the budget process, we will search for savings
in other programs with a goal towards being able to fund the domestic
violence shelters,” she said. “24-hour staffing at shelters is critical; I
consider this a priority,” Merrill concluded.
All the official words sound promising, but the shelters request for state
dollars to finance 24-hour staffing is not new. The request has failed in
past sessions. When asked why, Amann and Merrill said it was lost in budget
negotiations. The domestic violence program is but one in a myriad of
interests vying each year for inclusion in the state budget. Few interests
get all they desire in funding.
However, Amann and Merrill now are on record calling new funding to protect
women and children from domestic violence a top priority in this year’s
budget process. If the powerful Speaker of the House and the leader of the
committee that writes and produces the state budget don’t have enough clout
to make it happen, then who does?
Posted 2/18/08
Comments or
questions?
Contact us at
CTReport@crnradio.com
© Connecticut Radio Network
|