Legislature Ltr 020105 re Domestic Violence

This is a letter I wrote to my legislatures because of the crunch felt by the crisis shelters providing relief for DVSA (Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault) victims and in reaction to the news that SafePlace, one of the many DVSA shelters that was having to close half of its facilities due to the lack of funding. This has affected many shelters throughout the area because each shelter is experiencing its own lack of funding for the victim needs and put a strain on each shelter to "make do" for the victims:

In 1986, I was a victim of domestic violence wherein my then husband beat me while I was 4 months pregnant. I thought I lost the baby, but the doctors at Round Rock Hospital assured me that my baby, Amanda Nicole, was very resilient. My husband stayed at the jail in Georgetown for a few days and was released. His psychiatrist tracked me down convinced me that he would change and everything would be okay. In fact, he made it through Crisis Center’s phone lines and got hold of me at the hotel I was staying at, which would not happen that way these days. At any rate:

Amanda was born on 8/3/87, a beautiful girl.

By 2/14/89, I found out that change didn’t mean for-ever, and he tried to choke me – only to be stopped by our crying daughter saying, “Don’t hurt my Mama!”. This time, I put a plan into action. I was not going to put my daughter in that situation again, and I coordinated a move, service of papers, on March 9, 1989. He went to his regular poker game ritual and my neighbors helped me and my daughter to move out.

Unfortunately, many years later, I found myself in a similar relationship with another man. This is something that often happens to the victims if they go untreated in counseling services, etc. However, in the second time, I was able to see some red flags and was able to get out of that relationship too in 1999.

My third husband was a dream – very attentive, doted on me, respected me, and loved me dearly. Unfortunately, some good things have to come to an end and he died in November 11, 2002. This didn’t happen though without my finding the taste of a life without domestic violence and abuse; it was wonderful and I truly look forward someday to finding another husband, perhaps, to share the rest of my life with (again, without domestic violence or abuse).

In the meantime, I am working on myself. I am working on a degree in criminal justice and mediation. Working at the shelter giving back in some way to those who are presently being tormented by the life of domestic violence/abuse or sexual assault.

Today, I am finding myself being able to give back so-to-speak by being a Shelter Wknd Manager; however, the shelters are in a grave danger of either closing or limiting their services even more than they have in the past because a decrease in funding. In fact, SafePlace in Austin was faced to close one of their smaller shelters, which has put an impact on other shelters in the community.

At the shelter I am presently working at, they were not able to get the much needed FEMA Grant money that would allow us to house in emergencies DV/Sexual Assault victims and their children in a hotel in the event that (a) the shelter is full to the brim or (b) the shelter cannot feasibly house the victim because he is a male. Typically, through last year, we had funding for the hotel spaces for such emergency situations and aided in the housing while the shelter had to be re-wired for upkeep because of the age of the electrical system. This year, we don’t.

Being a weekend shelter manager and a hotline response team member, I have seen the influx of the hotline calls that we have been getting – especially those we have had to turn away because we are full or we can’t house a male victim and his children at our facility as it is presently set up.

With Governor Perry’s budget set that he can spend a little more, I would implore you to consider the need of the shelters and aid them to be in a situation to offer the services that are in an immediate need – more counseling and outreach service programs, staffing the night workers at greater than just $8/hr, providing emergency shelter space for overflows and/or male victims and their children, etc.

Chances are that you have either experienced domestic violence and/or sexual assault either directly or indirectly through an immediate or distant relative or friends. Think of what it would be like if they had no where to go to have a safe haven, to separate themselves from the abuser, and have an opportunity to move forward in their lives. Without the increased funding, it will be next to impossible for the shelters to continue their growth and ability to reach these victims. Please have a heart and think of the victims and what you could do to help – have an impact on them by aiding in increasing the funding for the shelters.

Thank you. I look forward to seeing the increased funding go to the shelters within this legislation.