Terri Hamrick, MNM
Executive Director
Survivors, Inc.
Post Office Box 3572
Gettysburg, PA  17325
(717) 334-0589 Extension 22
Facsimile (717) 334-3576
EMail:  Terri@...
 
Mission Statement
Survivors supports those who experience domestic violence or sexual assault
and strives to create a world in which violence against women and children
is unthinkable.
 
 


-----Original Message-----
From: policy@... [mailto:policy@...] On Behalf Of
Nicole A. Lindemyer
Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 6:18 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: CALLS ON STATE BUDGET NEEDED!
Importance: High

This message is from the PCADV Policy Contacts List

(This message may be forwarded to your program's supporters.)

We need everyone to make one final push of phone calls to the legislature
for an increase in the state budget line item for DV services--ASAP! They
are all in Harrisburg right now (so call their Capitol offices, not district
offices), with daily meetings and discussions taking place in the process
of trying to come to agreement on what will be in the final budget.

What we know about the budget right now is that much is still up in the air,
still being negotiated, with hard choices being made with less revenue than
expected. This is the home stretch in the state FY 08-09 budget, and we
need to make sure our funding needs are fresh in their minds as they make
those final, crucial decisions. WE NEED TO ASK THEM AGAIN TO SUPPORT A
$2.269 MILLION INCREASE FOR STATEWIDE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES!!!

Please pick up the phone right away, call each of your state representatives
and your state senators, and tell them again:

1. "I am a constituent from (your town) and (the ED/staff/volunteer/board
member/supporter) of (program name), our local domestic violence program."

2. "In order to help victims find safety from abuse, domestic violence
programs need adequate funding. Programs are in crisis, with skyrocketing
costs forcing them to cut services to victims who come to them in need of
life-saving services."

3. "Please increase the budget line item for domestic violence services by
$2.269 million. This is the minimum amount needed to stave off further
reductions and sustain services to victims statewide."

(To find their names and contact info, go to the PA General Assembly Website
at www.legis.state.pa.us. In the top right corner of the screen, there is a
section called "Find Members By." Enter your zip code or county. The search
will pull up a list of all the legislators for your area. Click on the
member's name to go to her or his individual page, which lists further the
contact info. Call the HARRISBURG/CAPITOL office.)

If you have the opportunity to do more than leave a message, engage them in
a conversation using some or all of the following Talking Points:

- Combined state and federal funding for statewide domestic violence
services has increased only 1.43 percent (that's just $401,207) since 2002!

- At the same time, costs are syrocketing. (We/program name) struggle(s)
every day with simply having enough staff to keep the shelter open 24 hours,
the hotline answered, and all victims getting the help they need.
- Since 2001 the cost of utilities is up 43.7, food is up 17.6
percent, gasoline is up 71.2 percent.
- Health insurance has risen around 40 percent for some programs.

-These increased costs overwhelm domestic violence programs just as they do
individual consumers—except that for programs, absorbing such increases
means cutting back on services to victims in life-threatening crises.
-Beyond the usual costs individuals or business face (salaries,
insurance, overhead), domestic violence shelters also must pay for the
expenses required of running a 24-hour residential facility, including food
and clothing for victims and their children in shelter, heat and other
utilities,
gasoline for transportation to court and medical appointments.
-Think of how much your family's grocery bills have risen in the
past year or two. Now imagine that your family consists of 30 people, there
because they are running for their lives and have nowhere else to go.

- Because state and federal funding provides only 32% of domestic violence
programs’ budgets, programs must raise 68% of their budgets from
local fundraising efforts.

- Given that the state budget appropriation is such a relatively small
amount of our overall funding, a one- or two-percent COLA would not even
approach our level of need. A one-percent COLA would be only $125,000; two
percent is $250,000. That amount is split across all 61 programs statewide,
making the net given to programs just a sliver.

- Funding shortfalls are having a devastating impact on local programs'
ability to serve victims. Programs have had to lay off staff and cut back on
their services, eliminating community education, school programs, and
children's advocacy. These shortfalls mean critical opportunities to reach
victims and their children are being lost.

- We understand that these are lean times, and that hard choices have to be
made about many worthy issues. But domestic violence services MUST be
prioritized, with enough funding given to meet the needs of victims facing
violent abuse.

- The $2.269 million increase we are requesting truly is the minimum amount
needed to sustain services. This amount also reflects where our funding
would be if we received consistent COLAs since 2001 to keep pace with
inflation.


Please recruit your colleagues, friends, neighbors, and others you know who
care about domestic violence victims to also call their legislators TODAY!
EACH AND EVERY CALL IS CRITICAL and MAKES A DIFFERENCE!!!

Please call me if you have any questions, concerns, or feedback from
legislators. THANK YOU!!!

Nicole A. Lindemyer, Esq.
Policy & Special Projects Manager
Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV)
6400 Flank Drive, Suite 1300
Harrisburg, PA 17112
(717) 545-6400, ext. 205
nal@...

This list provided as a service of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against
Domestic Violence.