NEWS ARCHIVE

(Clinton) -- The Women's Resource Center has received some funding from area governments and made its appeal to the Clinton City Council

THE LOCAL YWCA DOMESTIC ASSAULT RESOURCE CENTER AND SEXUAL ASSAULT RESOURCE CENTER IS SEEKING CITY FUNDS TO REMAIN IN OPERATION.

YW DIRECTOR LAURIE FREUNDENBERG ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL AT THEIR MEETING ABOUT THE STATE PLAN TO REGIONALIZE SERVICES AND SAID THAT WOULD LIKELY MEAN LESS SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY FOR VICTIMS. SHE SAID LAST YEAR THE CENTER PROVIDED AID TO 425 PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN THE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR SEXUAL ASSAULT. SHE SAID THEY HAVE NEVER THIS TYPE OF 'DESPERATE PLEA' FOR FUNDING TO KEEP THE SERVICES LOCAL, BUT WE HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO NEED THE SERVICES.

FREUDENBERG ASKED THE CITY FOR $53,125S AND THAT WAS BASED ON THE NEED OF $100,000 DOLLARS AND SERVING 801 VICTIMS OVER CLINTON AND JACKSON COUNTIES WITH 425 FROM CLINTON AT 125 DOLLARS PER PERSON.

AMY BIRTELL – WHO HAS BEEN HIRED AS THE CLINTON LIBRARY DIRECTOR – SPOKE ABOUT HER AND HER CHILDREN’S EXPERIENCE WITH DOMESTIC ABUSE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT AND WAY SHELTERS AND THE SUPPORT MADE A DIFFERENCE FOR HER FAMILY

THE Y-W DIRECTOR ALSO ASKED THAT THE FUNDING BE A CONTINUING LINE ITEM IN THE BUDGET.

COUNCIL MEMBER JOHN ROWLAND SAID THE COUNCIL FORMERLY GAVE MONEY TO VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, BUT THAT IS NOT CURRENTLY BEING DONE..IS CAUTIOUS ABOUT STARTING THAT FUNDING AGAIN. HE SAID IT WILL OPEN THE DOOR FOR OTHER GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO ASK FOR CITY FUNDS AND THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE PREPARED.

THE COUNCIL DECIDED TO CONSIDER THE REQUEST AT THEIR WRAP-UP BUDGET MEETING

Written 2/14/2013 by Dave Vickers - KROS News

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