Budget cuts endanger domestic violence programs

In Gov. John Baldacci’s current budget proposal state funding for domestic violence projects is eliminated. It is hard to imagine that the governor or any legislator would support such a drastic measure, but here we are, trapped between promises of no new taxes, increased costs and decreased revenues. It is critical, however, that Maine’s Legislature creates a budget that reflects our strong community values – helping those who need our help. It is what Maine people do. We are in very challenging financial times, but we cannot allow financial challenges to diminish our humanity.

As I write, we have four families in shelter and 16 families in transitional housing, including 34 children. In addition, today (and the day is not over) we have helped six women who called our hot line, talked with a teenager who knocked on our door about how she can protect herself from an abusive ex-boyfriend, and supported three women at district court in the process of getting protection from abuse orders.

There is nowhere else for these people to go, no one else who can assist them as we do. What will happen to all these people if we are not here? The proposed cuts in state funds for domestic violence projects, along with the cuts proposed to federal funding for this work and the increased costs of doing business, make closing our doors a real possibility.

As the governor faces the budget crisis, I recall an event that Spruce Run sponsored with the local domestic abuse task force to commemorate Domestic Violence Awareness Month in 1996. Gov. Baldacci was then running for Congress and attended the event with his family. Rather than making a brief, politically expedient appearance, he sat through the entire program – 16 speakers, survivors telling their stories and community leaders voicing their commitment to creating a community with zero tolerance for domestic violence. I know that he cares deeply about this issue.

When the governor issued his executive order in October 2004, calling for all state agencies to collaborate with domestic violence projects to develop and implement policies to address domestic violence in the workplace, he made history. Maine is the only state to have gone through such a thorough process, reaching out to nearly all of the state’s 14,000 employees. Those policies, however, depend upon the domestic violence projects being in place to provide safety planning, advocacy, shelter and training.

This year Spruce Run marks its 35th anniversary. We were the third organization founded in our country to assist people affected by domestic violence and to create prevention programs that have built steadily over the years. We have moved from a community in which victims of domestic violence suffered in silence and perpetrators acted with impunity to one in which we have a high level of awareness. Victims can and do reach out for help, and perpetrators are increasingly being held to account.

Domestic violence agencies have changed the face of Maine, creating safe places to go and helpful places to call. They provide training and consultation to make our workplaces, faith communities, doctors’ offices and schools part of a coordinated community effort to eliminate domestic violence.

The proposed state budget would cut all of the $1.2 million dollars currently allocated to the nine domestic violence projects in Maine. This would mean a loss of about $180,000 for Spruce Run, a quarter of our operating budget. There is nowhere to cut but the services themselves. Maintaining current state funding for domestic violence services would cost less than $1 a year from each of Maine’s residents.

Anyone who reads the Bangor Daily News knows that domestic violence homicide is a serious problem in our state. Because murder exposes violence that was previously invisible we can list the names of the murdered and mourn these tragic losses. But remember, those who survive domestic violence cannot all be listed. We do not know which lives have been saved, who might have been killed had they not called a domestic violence project.

Many thousands of people have called our hot line; thousands have stayed in our shelter and attended our groups. Because I have been Spruce Run’s public speaker for more than 20 years, I meet these survivors as they approach me after I have spoken. One such woman came to me after a talk last summer and said, “I just want you to know that Spruce Run saved my life 23 years ago by sheltering me and my five sons. We are safe and well today. Thank you.”

On March 12, the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee will hold hearings on the governor’s budget. If you have received assistance from Spruce Run or another domestic violence project, let the committee know what eliminating funds for these services means to you. Visit www.mainecandobetter.org for more information about contacting your legislator.

Francine Stark is the training coordinator for Spruce Run Association in Bangor.