Senate protects victims

Last week, the (Washington) Senate released its proposed supplemental budget, which made protecting victims of domestic violence a priority. The Senate’s proposed budget preserves funding for domestic violence emergency shelters and other crucial social services.

On a single day in 2011, Washington domestic violence programs served 1,884 domestic violence victims, including providing 1,080 victims with emergency shelter or transitional housing, and 804 victims with non-shelter services, such as individual counseling, legal advocacy, and children’s support groups.

On that same day, Washington domestic violence programs were unable to meet the needs of 502 requests for services due to a lack of funding, or other resources. In Spokane, the YWCA Alternatives to Domestic Violence Programs assist over 7,000 victims and their children in their programs each year. The program would have to start turning away victims needing safe shelter if the budgets were cut any further. Clearly, the Senate understands that further cuts to these life-saving services for domestic violence victims and their children would have grave consequences.

We appreciate the Senate prioritizing the protection of life-saving services for domestic violence victims. We hope the Legislature makes sure the final budget preserves these services for victims and their children.

Patty Wheeler

YWCA of Spokane

Spokane