Agenda - 05-05-2009 - 7a - Laserfiche WebLink

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~~t~cr~' ~~ Jan- ~~, ate' ~OCC /!/1,:~ w~..s 3 2 The Chair dispensed with the reading of the public charge. ~: ~ Public Comments a. Aflatters not on the Printed Agenda Shannon Jackson, Vice-Chair of Orange County Commission for Women, said that she recently attended a Woman's Advocacy Day. She said that she spoke with Senator Ellie . Kinnaird and Representative Verla Insko about the absence of a women's shelter in Orange County. They were both supportive of Bill SP 31 HB 43 n:ganiing a domestic violence appropriation. If passed, this bill wouk! allow funding for domestic violence programs, local initiatives, and would provide $2 million for matching grant funds for the construction of a domestic violence shelter. She introduced Dr. Arthrell Sanders, who read a letter regarding domestic violence. Dr. Arthrell Sanders read the letter. Scarred by Abuse Leiter `The 2008 Women's History Month celebration of the Orange County Commission for Women was entitled `Domestic Violence is NOT Just a Women's Issue.' This topic was espeaalty timely in light of recent news coverage of the plight of Johnston County resident Vemetta Cockefiam-Ellerbee, who survived a horrifying attack during which her ex-husband stabbed her repeatedly and murdered her daughter. The N8~0 reported that Vemetta `had taken a single step into the foyer when a knife struck her head, its blade breaking off inside. Ellerbee reached for another knife and stabbed her twice more, he then reached for a piece of broken glass ftom a shelf, shattered in the struggle. He tried to scratch her eyes out and shredded her hands instead as she shielded her eyes. She blacked out as Ellerbee choked her.' This case is a reminder that domestic violence can happen anywhere -even in quiet North Carolina counties like ours. According to the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Volence, 85 domestic violence murders took place in the last year. Nobody denies the existence of domestic violence; we just like to pretend that it doesn't happen in our neighborhoods. But we're wrong. And by denying the existence of domestic violence in our community, we are also denying survivors access to some necessary services. While Orange County has many excellent n:sources, including the Orange County Family Uolence Prevention Center, we lack one essential asset: a domestic violence shelter. Survivors of domestic abuse in Orange County must be ferried to Chatham or Durham, because they cannot be accommodated in their home county. White the State of North Carolina mandates that every county have an animal shelter, no such protection is afforded for Domestic Violence survivors. We must therefore take responsibility for providing our oWn solution. This conundrum has not escaped the notice of our elected officials. Mike Nelson, Moses Carey, and Ellie Kinnaird expressed concern about this issue at the Commission for Women's Domestic Violence event. Although we understand.that the County faces signficant budget challenges this year, the Orange County Commission for Women respectFulfy requests that the County Commissioners make a domestic violence shelter a top priority moving forward." Hudson Fuller is one of the founders of the Family Violence Prevention Center. She introduced three board members. Each year the Family violence Prevention Center serves over 600 individuals, mostly women, who are I"Wring in abusive situations. She said that at the time that a women comes forward ready to leave an abusive situation, the community should offer her and her children everything possible to help. What is most often needed is a safe