Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ayuda Good afternoon. I am Karma Cottman, the Executive Director of the District of
Break the Cycle Columbia Coalition Against Domestic Violence (“the Coalition”). Thank you, Chairman Gray, for
Center for Child Protection and your leadership and commitment to providing legal protections and support services for victims
Family Support
of crime. Today, I testify on behalf of not only the Coalition, but for the recently established
Children’s National Medical Center
District of Columbia Victim Services Alliance. A list of Alliance members, which include
DC Coalition Against Domestic providers who support the District’s victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault,
Violence
child abuse and neglect, human trafficking, stalking and homicide, is included in our submitted
DC Rape Crisis Center
statement. Later you will hear from William Kellibrew, a survivor of multiple forms of
Deaf and Abused Women Network
(DAWN) victimization regarding the critical need for sustained, coordinated victim services.
District Alliance for Safe Housing, We recognize that you face incredibly difficult decisions, and appreciate the opportunity
Inc. (DASH)
today to express our continued commitment to work with the Council to identify strategies that
Domestic Violence Legal enhance cost saving s and ensure that DC residents have access to the critical services they
Empowerment and Appeals Project
(DV LEAP) need.
HIPS We have heard repeatedly, that public safety has been spared drastic budgets cuts and
House of Ruth would like to take a moment to clarify: DC’s Victim Service Agencies are in a position similar to
Latin American Youth Center the District as a whole, as explained by Chairman Gray last week. Much to the credit of the
Ramona’s Way reserves – the Emergency Shelter Fund - In order to keep services running in FY11. In 2012,
Conclusion
Responsible budgeting isn’t just about cutting: it’s about making responsible choices to save and protect
the city’s most vulnerable citizens. We can and must do better. Consider this: The DC Fire Department
has $1 million in annually dedicated funds for special events! With that funding, lives can be saved.
We are committed to work in partnership with the Council and Administration to identify and
implement short and long-term solutions to the victim services funding crisis. To that end, the victim
services community is conducting in-depth research into other jurisdictions’ best practices for funding
and sustaining victim services – including the use of marriage and divorce license fees to support victim
services. We have held preliminary conversations with many members of the Council regarding our
concrete revenue enhancement recommendations and anticipate, in the weeks ahead, continued
dialogue. The victim services community also supports recommendations, as put forth by the Fair
Budget Coalition (of which many of our programs are members), for progressive tax increases to support
services
While we understand the District has been hit hard by the economic crisis, decimating the
District’s victim services budget at a time when our community members are at their most vulnerable is
unacceptable. We cannot expect to overcome budget shortfalls on the backs of the city’s victims of
crime. Thank you for your time and serious consideration of this matter. I am happy to answer
questions.