Save Our DV Shelters! Governer Cuts 100% Funding

Take Action and sign the petition to STOP Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger from taking away funding from programs that save the lives of victims from domestic violence!

We the undersigned strongly urge you to reconsider putting back funding for Domestic Violence Shelters. Everyday men, women and children are affected by domestic violence. When you consider that every 9 seconds a woman is battered in the U.S. that equals an estimated $1.4 billion annually in medical bills, and an additional $900 million in mental health treatment. (National Public Services Research Institute)

Domestic Violence also affects the economy and is responsible for a $3 to 5 billion loss each year for employers due to absenteeism.(California Department of Social Services)

Overall Domestic Violence is the single major cause of injury to women, more than muggings and car accidents combined. (First Comprehensive National Health Study of American Women, The Commonwealth Fund) Domestic Violence is the cause of 30% of physical disabilities in women (California Department of Social Services) and 50% of all women murdered in the United States are killed by a spouse or an acquaintance. (Journal of Trauma.)

By removing funding for State funding for shelters, many will have to close their doors permanently leaving victims with no place to go. Many of whom will eventually become murder victims. Those who do survive 34.3% of survivors will become homeless due to Domestic Violence.

Domestic Violence Shelters provide an important emergency resource for victims of Domestic Violence that police departments are unable to provide such as a safe place to stay, food, child-care, employment resources.

We the undersigned strongly urge you to reconsider your position on this matter as well as provide alternative resources of funding for each of the shelters who will be affected by this measure.

Read the Story Below:



NORTH COUNTY -- In an unprecedented move, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has cut 100-percent of domestic violence funding, leaving women's shelters wondering how they're going to deal with the loss.

Local shelter directors thought they'd see about a 20 to 30 percent cut, but never 100-percent. With this cut, there are fears that many abused women seeking help will have to be turned away.

"Jane" is a domestic violence victim. She told San Diego 6, "I probably wouldn't be alive. I would be dead."

Jane stays at Carol's House in the North County, a women's shelter she has called home for several months.

She talked about the abuse she suffered from her former fiancee'. "My abuser beat me in the head with a hammer. Choked me unconscious."

Jane fears what will happen to the next abused woman looking for help. "That they will die. Whether it would be in the inside or physically."

Ninety-four women's shelters statewide are affected. Laurin Pause, Executive Director for Community Resource Center, says half of those shelters might close.

"We hear about domestic violence on our streets already," said Pause.  "That number is going to increase and that is my biggest fear."

Pause manages Carol's House which has relied on the state for half of their funding.

"Part of getting a woman to be free and become a survivor is to offer full services which include legal counseling, and some of these programs may have to be cut," cautioned Pause.