California Cuts Millions from Health and Human Services Programs, Leaves DV Shelters with Nothing

Sorted under violence against women on August 7, 2009

$489 million was recently cut from California’s state budget by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The bulk of that $489 million was taken directly from health and human services programs, regardless of how important that money was to those programs or how many Californian lives they saved.

Perhaps the most shocking cut affected California domestic violence shelters, which were stripped of its federal funding by these cuts. While the shelters were preparing for the 20% funding cut proposed by the legislature, they were shocked to find out that the governor had cut 100% of its funding, driving shelters to either be forced to close or seek new sources of funding. These clinics keep women and children safe and alive, and as the Executive Director of Catalyst Domestic Services in Butte County, California, Anastacia Snyder has said “If the governor’s budget cuts are allowed to stand, victims will not have a place to turn for help and lives will inevitably be lost.”

Leaving domestic violence shelters with no funding whatsoever is frankly, a death sentence for many women and their children who desperately need the services that these shelters provide. The decision to cut all funding for these life-saving shelters is morally corrupt and downright wrong. It speaks volumes of how Governor Schwarzenegger views women and his lack of commitment to making decisions that should best serve the people of California. This budget cut is also coming at a time where communities in California are seeing a rise in reported cases of domestic violence. Fresno, California alone has seen a 30% rise in cases of domestic violence over the past four months. So while the need of these shelters is rising and will inevitably continue to rise, these shelters will not have the means to help the people who need them.

In addition to domestic violence shelters losing all of their funding, Governor Schwarzenegger is also robbing people in need of several other health and human services programs, including AIDS prevention programs which saw a $52 million cut, $25 million was cut from clinics, and $50 million was cut from Healthy Families, a health initiative that offers health insurance to children in low-income families.



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  • Hi

    I think this may be wrong with Californian people because health facility for everyone and anyone can get benefit to it.
  • It is a shame that essential services are cut and the money is generally directed towards 'in vogue' services in an effort to win votes!
    Some things run deeper then politics!
  • Its really very horrible! thanks for back link.
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  • Its really very horrible! thanks for back link.
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  • offshorewebdesigning
    $498 million cutting from Californian state budget is not a good move so government should have to take some positive step to save the life of people!
  • Why cut back on things that are so essential. I can think of a lot of other pork in the state budget that you could cut back on before looking at this!!
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    Hi! Its a very creative blog and the informations which given really mind blowing so thanks for your innovative blog and keep up the innovative thinking.
  • Hi there, very nice site.I can see you have put a lot of work into it.I have being reading your posts about "California Cuts Millions from Health and Human Services Programs, Leaves DV Shelters with Nothing". I can see how this benefits everyone
  • This is kind of sad. I live in California a few months per year and the state has screwed things up badly. They can't afford to pay teachers, build quality schools, or pay their bills, yet the city of Los Angeles will whip out a million bucks to hold Michael Jackson's funeral or a Laker parade. Just sad where their priorities are.
  • drichardson
    In addition to shelters I heard health care among state employees is being cut. That's terrible!
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  • Way to go Arnold. Another great decision to add to the long list.
  • I would have to agree with the above user!
  • That's horrible! What were they thinking?!
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