Augusta Domestic Violence Victim's Advocate Reacts To State Funding Cuts

Domestic Violence Victim's Advocate Reacts To State Funding Cuts... (Added: April 09, 2011)

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By: Cory McGinnis | WJBF News Channel 6
Published: April 09, 2011
Updated: April 09, 2011 - 11:04 PM

Augusta, GA --

Georgia lawmakers are about to cut state funding for domestic violence programs, despite the fact the Georgia is tenth in the nation for domestic violence and homicide. Cory McGinnis gets one local advocate's reaction...

Aimee Hall is with Safe Homes of Augusta. The group's mission is to turn victims of domestic violence into survivors. She says the state's decision to cut funding will hurt shelters like hers and will affect women across the state.

Aimee Hall, Safe Homes of Augusta: "Its going to probably cut out services we provide to women without children. Now, we will find other ways to fund those women, but still going from state to TANF, there's more restrictive funds."

TANF stands for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

The plan is to use some 4.4 million in federal welfare money to replace state money that funds domestic violence shelters...

Officials with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have raised questions about the proposal.

But, the state is pressing forward with the plan anyway. It's included in budget proposals that have passed both the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate.

Lawmakers who are in favor of the plan say use of federal funds will help meet the TANF goals of preventing and reducing out-of-wedlock pregnancies and encouraging the formation and maintenance of two-parent families.

But, Hall says taking away state money will hurt the state's domestic violence programs...

Hall: "If you're against this and you know enough about it, call the legislators and speak up against this move. If not, then we need all the community support we can get right now."

Hall encourages women to call if they need assistance, they can be reached at 706-736-2499.