Agenda - 06-16-2009 - 4a - Laserfiche WebLink

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21 1 then be able to make a more informed recommendation on possible solutions to the issue of a 2 Domestic Violence Shelter. 3 It is important to have the Board of County Commissioners' support for this issue so that 4 we can move forward with viable backing from County Government officials. We can seek 5 assistance from UNC, Federal Government, State, etc., but it would be hard to move forward 6 without an official stamp of approval from the Orange County Commissioners. I would like to 7 quote Rita Anita Linger, Director of the North Carolina Coalition for Domestic Violence: `The 8 need for a shelter in Orange County is at the critical stages now. The coalition works with 9 shelter programs that are full with no room in the surrounding counties and women find 10 themselves sleeping in the streets in harm's way within Orange County. I am constantly 11 hearing from victims and programs who can't accommodate Orange County residents into their 12 shelters because they are at capacity.' 13 We all know that we are facing challenging economic times. In some ways, however, 14 that is even more reason to move forward with a Domestic Violence shelter in Orange County - 15 economic hardship is one of the many issues that victims of domestic violence face and can 16 also be the cause of Domestic Violence. Without sufficient income of their own or a safe place 17 to go, so many women are likely to stay with their abuser and have no other choice but to have 18 their children live in environments of domestic violence as well. 19 Please consider moving forward on this issue and help us find a solution for a Domestic 20 Violence Shelter in Orange County, and show that this County is truly one of the most 21 "progressive" counties in North Carolina. 22 Thank you for your time and consideration." 23 24 Beverly Kennedy, Executive Director of the Family Violence Prevention Center, said that 25 there is definitely a need for a domestic violent shelter in Orange County. She said that she 26 spent five years as the Director of a battered women's shelter in Massachusetts. She said that 27 it is imperative that a study group be commissioned to discuss all of the considerations of 28 having a shelter. She said that shelters must have mental health services and substance abuse 29 services. 30 Kelly Eubanks was from the N.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence. She said that this 31 coalition provides support services to all domestic violence programs in the State. She read a 32 letter from the Executive Director of the N. C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The letter 33 reiterated the need for a shelter in Orange County. 34 35 Commissioner Nelson asked Beverly Kennedy about the non-profit versus for-profit. 36 Beverly Kennedy expressed that it will take the whole community working together to build a 37 shelter. 38 Commissioner Pelissier asked about what has been done in neighboring counties. Gwen 39 Harvey said that the shelters in other counties are run by non-profits. 40 Chair Foushee said that not having a shelter in Orange County has been along-standing 41 problem. The shelter in Durham was run by anon-profit. 42 Commissioner Yuhasz made reference to the letter from 1999 about the three buildings 43 that were built and are still under the control of the Inter-Faith Council. He said that the third 44 building was specifically supposed to be used a domestic violence shelter. He asked what it is 45 being used for now. Gwen Harvey said that it is incorporated as part of Project HomeStart. It is 46 not a domestic violence shelter, but it would serve women that were victims of domestic 47 violence. It is not portrayed as a domestic violence shelter. 48 Hudson Fuller said that she was the Domestic Violence Coordinator for Orange County in 49 1995. She is also one of the founders of the Family Violence Prevention Center. She said that 50 the IFC does not have the expertise to run a domestic violence shelter and the knowledge about