Story by Isha Pattanaik
Graphic by Madeline Nguyen
ANCHOR INTRO:
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS MIGHT HAVE A HARDER TIME FINDING RESOURCES FOR HELP. ISHA PATTANAIK TELLS US ABOUT HOW FEDERAL BUDGETS CAN AFFECT COMMUNITIES.
PKG:
A HUNDRED THOUSAND. THAT’S AROUND HOW MANY TIMES THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE RANG IN NORTH CAROLINA LAST YEAR. PEOPLE CALL THIS HOTLINE TO ESCAPE THEIR ABUSERS AND BREAK THE NEVER-ENDING CYCLE.
BUT NOW RESOURCES ARE LIMITED. CAROLINE FARMER IS THE EXECTUIVE DIRECTOR OF NORTH CAROLINA GOVENOR’S CRIME COMMISSION WHERE THEY ALLOCATE FUNDS FOR SHELTERS FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND CHILD ADVOCACY. SHE SAYS IN 2018, THE FUNDS WERE AROUND A HUNDRED MILLION, WHILE TODAY THEY ARE AT 24 MILLION, A QUARTER OF WHAT WAS.
0:27-0:51 FARMER: “NEXT YEAR BECAUSE OF THE FACT WE ARE ANTICIPATING IT DECREASING TO 3 OR 4 MILLION, WE HAVE REDUCED THE TYPES OF ENTITIES THAT CAN APPLY, JUST THE ONES REQUIRED BY LAW, NO LEGAL NO MEDAICAL SERICES, NO VIOLENCE OR PREVENTION SERVICES, SO IT’S GOING TO BE DEVASTING ACROSS THE STATE.”
THE VICITMS OF CRIME ACT OR VOCA’S MONEY COMES FROM THE NATIONAL CRIME FUND AND IS THEN PROVIDED TO THE STATE. MELINDA MANNING, THE DIRECTOR OF THE BEACON PROGRAM FOR UNC HEALTH SAYS THIS DECREASE HITS HARD.
1:03-1:23MELINDA MANNING: “LESS MONEY IS GOING TO THE STATES. THAT IS THE MONEY THAT STATES USE TO FUND THINGS LIKE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGENCIES, RAPE CRISIS CENTERS, HUMAN TRAFFICKING WORK IS ANOTHER ONE THAT’S REALLY BEEN AFFECTED.” “A LOT OF OUR AGENCIES STATEWIDE SOME OF THEM ARE HAVING TO CLOSE THEIR SHLETERS, AND A LOT OF THEM ARE HAVING TO REDUCE THEIR SERVICES”
SHE SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES THERE HAVE BEEN ZERO BEDS AVAILABLE STATEWIDE.
1:27-1:33 MANNING: “IT’S NOT JUST BEDS. IT’S SUPPORT GROUPS, HELP GOING TO COURT.
MANNING SAYS WHEN ALL OF THESE SERVICES GET CUT, IT MAKES IT A LOT HARDER TO GET OUT AND STAY OUT OF ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS.
1:39-1:44 MANNING: “THAT’S ANOTHER THING THAT SCARES ME WHAT’S THE RESULT GOING TO BE 10 YEARS FROM NOW”
1:44-2:03 FARMER: “JUST IMAGINE BEING A VICTIM AND WHAT IT’S LIKE WHERE YOU’RE CONTROLLED YOU DON’T HAVE ACCESS TO A LOT OF MONEY, AND YOU HAVE GAIN SOME KIND OF TRANSPORTATION TWO COUNTIES OVER TO GET THE SERVICES YOU NEED.”
FARMER SAYS SHE HOPES THAT THE CRIME VICTIMS FUND WILL STABILIZE AND THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO NEED IT. FROM CHAPEL HILL, I’M ISHA PATTANAIK REPORTING
ANCHOR TAG:
FARMER SAYS SHE ALSO HOPES ELECTED OFFICIALS WILL RECOGNIZE THAT NONPROFITS ARE WOKRING NIGHT AND DAY TO MAKE SURE SERVICES CAN CONTINUE.
