By Barbara Langdon
It’s a troublesome world right now. We’re concerned about the war, the economy, the election – all rightfully so. But let me ask you to step back and reflect.
As it gets harder for people to make ends meet, there are thousands of people on the brink of disaster with fewer options then ever before. The Eastside has our share of domestic violence and sexual assault. We have hunger, homelessness, and families without health insurance. And throughout the Eastside and King County, we depend on a system of services to improve our lives, and the lives of others. These services are funded, in part, through our King County taxes.
Now, this system, which has been painstakingly built over the past two decades, is facing dismantlement with the proposed King County budget cuts.
If the proposed reductions are put in placeyhere will be:
● Less counseling for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and their families who have found the courage to reach out for help
● Less help and support for children of victims of domestic violence
● Less food for hungry families who are already struggling
● Less outreach for seniors who need help in order to stay in their own homes
Many of these services overlap and all are crucial to our community. For example, according to the 2002 report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, 44 percent of the cities surveyed identified domestic violence as the primary cause of homelessness. With limited shelter beds, length of stay limitations and lack of affordable housing, shelters are often full, leaving individuals with no where to go. The reality is: Women are often forced to choose between staying in a violent home or living on the streets – and many of them are with children.
Last year Eastside Domestic Violence Program served 5,644 victims of abuse and answered more than 8,820 crisis line calls. Another 28,320 individuals in our community were educated and trained including the healthcare systems, the criminal justice system, schools, religious communities, social service providers, and civic groups.
Today, EDVP’s turn away rate is 13 to 1 – meaning for every one individual sheltered, 13 are turned away. Cuts in funding will mean a dramatic increase in the numbers of women and children denied access to safe, confidential shelter.
King County has a reputation for innovation, for creative solutions to problems. Simply phasing out King County funded human services over a three-year period is not an option.
Please write or call your King County Council representative and your State Legislators and tell them proposed cuts in human services funding are simply not acceptable. Their contact information is easily found at www.kingcounty.gov/council.aspx and http://access.wa.gov/government/state_legislature.aspx.
Barbara Langdon is Executive Director, Eastside Domestic Violence Program.
