Community Solutions to Sexual and Domestic Violence: VIRGINIA

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LEADERS LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HAVEN SHELTER AND SERVICES

WARSAW, VIRGINIA – Congressman Rob Wittman, leaders from the Virginia General Assembly, and local leaders gathered at the Administrative Offices of The Haven Shelter and Services, Inc. for a presentation and reception to learn more about the history of the organization, the services it provides throughout the Northern Neck and Essex County, and the challenges it faces in providing such services.

Delegate Margaret Ransone, Delegate Keith Hodges, Senator Ryan McDougle, Richmond County Board of Supervisors Chairman Lee Sanders, Essex County Board of Supervisors Chairman Stanley Langford, Jr., and Warsaw Vice-Mayor Paul Yackel attended the reception hosted by The Haven’s Board of Directors.

Following a presentation by Haven Executive Director Ellen Yackel, leaders and local officials were provided with the opportunity to speak to staff, Haven Board Directors, and program participants and to tour The Haven’s Shoppe for Haven’s Sake Thrift Store and the crisis shelter operated by The Haven.

Kristi VanAudenhove, Executive Director of The Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance (Action Alliance) was also on hand to discuss the Action Alliance’s support of the General Assembly’s House Bill 1 to streamline funding for sexual and domestic violence crisis services to The Haven and 52 other Sexual and Domestic Violence Crisis Centers in the Commonwealth represented by the Action Alliance.

Delegate Barbara Comstock and Delegate Chris Peace are co-sponsors of House Bill 1 which would establish a Sexual and Domestic Violence Subfund at the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund. Senator Janet Howell and Senator Jill Holtzman Vogel are co-sponsoring companion legislation in the Senate.

According to Haven Executive Director Yackel, who also serves as the Chair of the Action Alliance Public Policy Committee, this bill is a first step in increasing available funds for programs across the state of Virginia like The Haven who provide direct services to individuals who experience intimate partner and sexual abuse. According to Yackel, The Haven has been forced to use limited reserve funds for the past three years in order to avoid cutting any services to local individuals who rely on The Haven as part of their efforts to build violence-free lives for themselves and their children. As the reserve funds have decreased, the demand for services and the costs of providing services have increased significantly.

Following an extensive state-wide needs assessment, The Action Alliance Public Policy Committee identified a need of $18 million to ensure that victims of sexual and domestic violence in Virginia are able to get the help they need within their local communities. “Success of House Bill 1 will be a tremendous first step in the process of filling this huge gap,” says Yackel. “The Haven is honored and greatly appreciates that these leaders took time out of their busy schedules to come out on a rainy, cold night and learn more about who we are and what we are doing for citizens in our local community.”