State must fight domestic violence

The Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women's Network are membership organizations of non-profit agencies providing direct services to victims of domestic violence across the state.

These programs are currently faced with 25 percent cuts to federal domestic violence funding, forcing some programs to close offices that provide critical crisis-intervention services to those fleeing lethal and abusive households.

This cut comes at a time when the current level of funding is not near sufficient.

In September 2007, a census was held of the domestic violence service organizations throughout Illinois. Ninety percent of domestic violence agencies participated.

The results of the census show that in one day alone, over 600 victims of domestic violence did not receive the requested services due to a lack of funding for domestic violence organizations.

In order to meet the needs of its citizens, the state of Illinois needs an increase of $17 million in domestic violence funding.

If there is a cut to funding, it is our belief that more people will be killed because of a lack of resources that could have provided a pathway to safety.

Organizations will have to start choosing which victims will receive services.

Will it be the child who experienced violence in the home or the mother who needs legal advocacy?

These are choices that no one should have to make.

We need our state's leadership in the Legislature and in the executive branch to take the responsibility for providing funding that allows domestic violence service organizations to meet the needs across the state.

The lives of our state's citizens are at stake.

Dawn Dalton

Executive Director

Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women's Network

Cheryl Howard

Executive Director

Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence