UPDATE ON STATE FUNDING

We learned late last week that STATE FUNDING FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES HAS BEEN RESTORED. $2.375 MILLION HAS BEEN PUT BACK IN THE BUDGET.

State domestic violence funding was restored on Thursday, March 4, by the House Budget Chairman Alan Icet (R-Wildwood) in his Department of Social Services appropriations bill HB 2011. A House appropriations committee had earlier recommended cutting state domestic violence funding by 50% ($2.375 million), but the Chairman’s new budget bill will restore DV funding to current levels ($4.75 million).

Chairman Icet’s bill will be the basis of House Budget Committee deliberations for each state department. Those hearings will begin March 15 after this week’s legislative spring break.

How wonderful it was to learn that the funding cuts that would have been absolutely devastating to our budgets had been restored in the House Budget! The work that Hope House does is critical to helping victims of domestic violence reclaim their lives and focus on starting new lives free of abuse.

Thank you to all of you who called or wrote to your representatives to encourage them to reinstate this funding. It does make a difference and your voice was heard.

Thank you to all of our representatives who not only heard that message but advocated on our behalf. It is clear they understood the devastating impact these cuts would have on victims and how lives would be lost.

We are not through the budget process and I know that the state is facing critical shortfalls in revenue. Very difficult decisions are ahead for our representatives. I am extremely grateful for their commitment to the residents of Missouri during this very difficult time.