State Budget Cuts to Domestic Violence Programs

Phoenix, AZ – Due to harsh economic times, the Arizona Department of Economic Security has made radical cuts to domestic violence programs and shelters across the state, according to the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence, a state-run organization that serves as a voice for domestic violence victims and service providers. 

The largest domestic violence shelter in Arizona, the Sojourner Center, experienced its very first budget cut in this last fiscal year beginning in July 2009, which was about 13 percent, said Lauren Mansene, communications coordinator for the shelter. The drop totaled approximately $370,000 just in state government contracts.

However, state funding to the Sojourner Center has since been further diminished to about $525,000 altogether, said Connie Phillips, executive director for the Sojourner Center. 

And it appears the allotment of money from the state is in jeopardy of further cuts in the next fiscal year, Phillips said. 

“If you watch the news and follow everything that is happening with this economic crisis, this year the hole in the budget is some $2 billion larger than it was last year when we experienced the cuts,” Phillips said.  “It’s very likely that the state will cut additional funds from social services over the next year, but we will not know until spring.”

Phillips said that one of the most problematic components now, is that it seems as though the state does not even have the money to fulfill the current contract they have with the shelter, which is about $2.3 million.

Elizabeth Ditlevson, director of domestic violence services for the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence said current economic times are taking a huge toll on what domestic violence advocacy organizations are able to offer, but each shelter is going to do what it needs to do to make up for the lost money.  

“Going backwards is not an option,” Ditlevson said.  “Right now, Arizona shelters are only meeting about one-half of the needs that we should be, and we cannot lessen that amount in any way.”

According to a 2008 report by DES, there is a shelter turn-away rate of greater than 40 percent, but Mansene said that the turn-away rate at the Sojourner Center is only at about 20 percent. 

In an effort to make up for lost money, the Sojourner Center has taken on extra fundraising efforts like the “Save a Bed Campaign” which began in July of 2009 to ensure that the shelter will not have to close a single bed.

“It is our intention to make up every lost dollar through fundraising,” Phillips said.  “We have raised $326,000 to date but the campaign is not over until June 30, 2010, and we don’t intend to stop there.” 

Each year, the Sojourner Center fundraises about $1.5 million, Mansene said. 

“Though we’ve had significant budget cuts from the state level, we’ve been very fortunate to keep our fundraising money high, and we’ve been even more fortunate not to have to close any shelter beds,” Mansene said. 

Sojourner Center has not yet had to close any beds, but there are still beds that have not yet been opened due to lack of funds, Mansene said. 

“We have room to open 44 new beds at our Hope Campus,” Mansene said.  “But at this time we are not even considering it until things turn around or we have an incredible amount of volunteer work done.”

Phillips said that the cost to keep one bed open for one day is $55, and then to keep a bed open for one year is roughly $20,075.  Therefore, in order to open up the additional 44 beds at the Sojourner Center, the shelter would need about $883,000 more a year.  This figure would include all of the emergency services, clothing, food, empowerment classes, and much more that the shelter provides. 

The building itself needs about $1 million in rennovations, but Phillips said they could get everything started with just about $50,000. 

“It will happen some day,” Phillips said.  “The way that things are looking, people are say it’s going to be around 2014 before we get out of this downward spiral.”

Phillips said that one thing the poor economy has not caused for the shelter is an increase of women seeking help, which may or may not be a good thing.

“I think that with the economy the way it is, women are more frightened to leave,” Phillips said.  “They are staying in violent relationships because they feel there is no other choice right now.”

Mansene said it is so important to make sure shelters have enough money because they do not only offer women a place to stay.  The shelter offers 280 emergency shelter beds with a maximum stay of six months and transitional housing apartments where women can live and pay a subsidized rent for an additional two years.  In addition, the shelter offers empowerment services to victims and their families.

“When the women come into our shelter, they are encouraged to create goals for themselves,” Mansene said.  “And from that, we do everything we can to help them achieve their goals.”

The shelter has licensed childcare, empowerment classes, a computer room and free healthcare.

The computer room is offered for women to be able to fill out applications or get help building a resume.  The classes are to teach women more about what they are going through and how to overcome it. 

The free healthcare is provided by the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, which allows women and their families to be free from severe medical expenses, and also allows students to get a chance with hands-on medical experience.

Children up to age 17 are also welcome at the shelter so a mother does not have to leave her child behind, Mansene said.  The children are offered all of the same benefits.

“Everything that we offer is very important to women seeking help from domestic violence,” Mansene said.  “This is why we need to make sure that our funds are not prohibiting us from doing our job.”

The money that DES gives to the Sojourner Center pays $45 of the $55 that it costs to operate a bed for one night, Mansene said.  When the budget is cut, it only decreases the number of nights that can be funded. 

“We do not just fund a night for less than the $55 because that is the set total that it costs to operate,” Mansene said.  “Rather we just have to cut back on the number of nights we can offer our shelter and services.”

Ditlevson said that there is now recovery act money being offered from the Federal Government to help domestic violence advocacies, but the money is a bit complicated. 

“Because the money is a grant, the things we can use the money for is different than what the state money allows for,” Ditlevson said.  “That money pays for keeping people’s jobs, not feeding people.  If DES money is cut, we can’t just apply for stimulus funds to cover the difference.”

According to the Arizona Department of Economic Security Domestic Violence Shelter Fund Report SFY 2009, the greatest needs are for more emergency shelter beds, more transitional housing, affordable stable housing, transportation, childcare, and legal assistance. 

“These are the areas that the budget cut affects,” Ditlevson said.  “And that is why the cuts are so problematic.”

Guest article contributed by Laura Tipton, Student
Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Technorati Tags: Arizona, Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence, domestic violence, Phoenix, Sojourner Center, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine