Local shelter waits for its share of domestic violence funding

Three days following Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s decision to refund 80 percent of state money previously taken away from California’s 94 shelters, the Central Family Crisis Center is figuring out what to do with the $156,064.

Schwarzenegger blue-lined the money for California’s 94 shelters in late July as he and lawmakers scrambled to close the $24 billion budget deficit. As a result, the local shelter lost 20 percent of its revenue, equal to $207,000, leading to the layoffs of three full time positions and a reduction in services.  

The bill Schwarzenegger signed Wednesday is a one year loan, which diverts $16.3 million from an alterative fuel and technology fund to the state general fund. It must be repaid by June 2013.

“It’s a one year band aid,” Executive Director Anna Green said. “Come July 2010 we’ll be right back where we started.”

The senate bill also places the administration of the domestic violence program in the hands of the state’s emergency management agency rather than the Department of Public Health, which had overseen financing of such programs since their inception in 1994.

The women who find a safe haven at the Porterville shelter also establish life goals, escape controlling abusers and learn to handle suppressed emotions for themselves and their children. In 2008, more than 400 women found their way to the shelter.

It has been full in the last few months, and case managers are working with more women now that they have fewer employees. In addition, the Central California Family Crisis Center, which operates the shelter, laid off its only full time counselor.

Green ventured that more and more women are coming to Porterville because there are fewer shelters statewide.
The budget cuts forced six shelters to shut down, but officials have said they should be able to reopen with the new funding. Madera County’s only domestic violence shelter has announced that it will reopen in November.

Because the money comes from a different source than it has for the past 15 years, Green says shelter staff will have to wait to see what strings are attached before making any changes.

“We can’t run out and rehire people because in eight months we might not have the money,” she said. “We don’t even have the money yet.”

At a press conference Wednesday, Schwarzenegger said domestic violence “is a serious problem and it’s widespread.” He could not predict whether or not the state will be able to sustain funding in the years to come.

In 2007, there were 118 domestic violence deaths statewide, that number rose to 119 in 2008.

“We will have to get creative,” Schwarzenegger said. “It’s going to get tough and tougher now to balance the budget.”

-- Contact Jenna Chandler at 784-5000, Ext. 1050, or jchandler@portervillerecorder.com.