District Alliance for Safe Housing (DASH), a coordinating partner of the DC Victim Services Initiative, send a community update about the Initiative's most recent accomplishments. The text of the update is posted below. To see the web version of the Update or subscribe to DASH's news list, click here.
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With your support, we are on the brink of securing funds for
ALL victims of crime in the District of Columbia!
What We Have Accomplished Together
Let me start with a THANK YOU for all of your hard work -- and let you know that it's paying off. You filled out postcards and signed your name on the petition that we sent to Congress. Your voices are being heard, federal lawmakers are listening!
With your support and action, we are nearing a solution that will benefit all victim service organizations. Our partners and sister programs will avoid closing their doors or shutting down programs -- because you cared. Again, thank you! But our work is not done yet.
The Road Ahead
Right now, all victim service organizations, including those providing safe housing and shelter, are caught in a broken system. Victims in D.C. are bearing the consequences. If we do not act to bring about changes now, things will get far worse.
There is a drastic depletion in federally-controlled funds that the city relies on to support critical victim services. As a result, there will be a 60% to 90% decrease in funding available to D.C. victim service organizations by Fiscal Year 2012.
The funding decrease will decimate services to people who experience domestic violence, sexual assault, child victimization, teen victimization, robbery, and homicide in the District. Services like counseling, case management, legal representation, safe housing and shelter, will disappear.
In 2009, federally-controlled funding paid for services to nearly 7,000 victims in D.C. If funding decreases as projected, only 400 victims will be served with these funds in 2012.
Worse than loss of services, organizations will be forced to shut down, and the end result will be a tragic loss of support for those who are in the most need. Some may even lose their lives in the absence of critically needed victim services.
Your Role
Because Congress is listening to us, it is imperative that we continue sending our message to ensure victims of crime do not lose services in the coming years.
We want the District to regain control of victim services funding that is presently under federal control. State governments across the country routinely have control over this same funding in their jurisdictions. The District should be no different.
Here's what you can do to make a difference in the days and weeks ahead:
Attend the April 14th D.C. Council Hearing
Local victim service organizations and national partners will be testifying before the D.C. Council on April 14th. Come and show your support if you are local! (More details to follow.)
Contact Key Congressional Leadership
We may need you to make calls or send emails to key Members of Congress in the weeks to come. We will send you alerts when necessary and hope that you continue to help us.
Your support is the reason we have made such significant progress. If you continue to stand with us, we will be able to ensure continued services to thousands of victims in the coming years.
Best,
Larisa Kofman, J.D.
Public Policy Director
District Alliance for Safe Housing, Inc.
202-462-3274
202-462-3365 (fax)
lkofman@dashdc.org
www.dashdc.org
CFC #99008 ~ United Way #9391
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