Funding For Domestic Abuse Services To Be Taken Up By Budget Committee

The Legislature’s budget committee will consider whether to provide more funding for victims of domestic violence on Thursday.

Gov. Scott Walker’s budget would increase domestic abuse services funding by $5 million. However, the proposal was made before flat revenue projections came out, and now lawmakers are considering what to trim.

Courtney Olson is executive director of Rainbow House, a shelter in Marinette. A long-range plan of domestic abuse services showed 45 percent of those needing shelter across the state were turned away.

“Each day, about 250 requests for services go unmet because we don’t have the resources statewide to cover it all,” said Olson.

The group End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin urged support for the governor’s proposal, but said it would not ensure services for everyone. The group’s long-range plan estimated it would need nearly $20 million annually from state, federal and private sources.