Will we stand with survivors of gender-based violence?

King County officials must prioritize survivors of gender-based violence. Do they stand with survivors of gender-based violence, or will they allow them to struggle alone?

Funding to prevent gender-based violence and support survivors is at a critical crossroads. In the last 5 years, our county faced an increase in gender-based violence, including sexual assault, domestic violence, and trafficking. The pandemic worsened things for survivors due to legal system closures, school/workplace shutdowns, and socio-economic stressors. Gender-based violence persists as a critical issue in King County. Specifically, domestic violence homicide rates doubled in 2020 and 2021 prior to previous years. At the same time, our member organizations are facing budget challenges.

Many organizations are at the brink of shutting our doors entirely. Funding for organizations that assist survivors has been stagnant for nearly a decade. In many cases, our members have seen significant cuts in public and private revenue.
Skyrocketing costs of living threatens already razor-thin staffing levels for advocates working directly with survivors who are underpaid, burnt out, and in high- demand across a variety of sectors.
Strained systems that survivors rely on are struggling to keep up with backlogs, increasing delays and risk for more and more survivors.
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Goal: 200

Programs to prevent gender-based violence account for just 0.02% of King County's general fund. Yet, some King County councilmembers have warned that steep cuts are ahead, which would force many organizations to shut their doors entirely, and survivors without crucial assistance. Your elected officials need to hear from you with a very simple message: no more excuses, find the funding to support survivors of gender-based violence.

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Dear [recipient position will go here] [recipient name will go here],

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Gender-based violence persists as a critical issue affecting every community and yet funding to address gender-based violence is at a critical crossroads. In the last 5 years, King County has seen an increase in gender-based violence, including sexual assault, domestic violence, and trafficking. The pandemic worsened things for survivors due to increased isolation, legal system closures, school/workplace shutdowns, and socioeconomic stressors. We've seen domestic violence homicide rates double in 2020 and 2021 prior to previous years, all while our member organizations face budget challenges.

Many organizations are at the brink of shutting our doors entirely. Funding for organizations that assist survivors has been stagnant for nearly a decade and many of our members have seen significant cuts in public and private revenue.

King County officials should consider the message they are sending survivors every time they decide how to spend money. Do they stand with survivors of gender-based violence, or will they allow them to struggle alone?

We need a long-term, stable, dedicated stream of funding for gender-based violence supports.

It takes enormous courage for survivors of gender-based violence to speak out about abuse and seek help. They deserve ready and immediate access to advocates who can provide safe and stable housing, counseling, legal support, community connection, safety planning and more.

The loss of progress made to facilitate culturally specific, community-based, and trauma-informed care throughout our county is not replaceable in the short or long-term. The effects of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other forms of gender-based violence are life-long. The county cannot simply recreate this work again later.

Funding for all our member organizations combined is less than 0.02% of King County’s general fund budget. Despite the modest investment and paramount need for this work, far too often this funding is the first to be cut.

We have the opportunity this year to finally live up to our values and campaign promises to address gender-based violence by prioritizing this work, especially when it is hard.

Please prioritize funding for gender-based violence in this year's supplemental budget and work towards creating a permanent, dedicated, and stable funding source in future years.

Sincerely,
[your name will go here]
[your email address will go here] [your location will go here]

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