Domestic violence services funding attacked
The executive director of Fayette County’s Domestic Violence Services criticized a proposed state budget increase to domestic violence funding because it gives Philadelphia the lion’s share of the increase, leaving the rest of Pennsylvania’s counties to share in what is left. Of the proposed $1.2 million increase to the domestic violence funding, Philadelphia is slated to receive $800,000. The remaining $400,000 would be divvied up between the remaining 66 counties.
Jacquie Albert, director of Fayette County’s Domestic Violence Services, said that statistics in 2004 and 2005 show that Fayette County had more domestic violence-related deaths per 100,000 people than Philadelphia. In 2004, Fayette had 1.35 fatalities per 100,000 to Philadelphia’s .79 per 100,000 and in 2005, Fayette had 2.02 deaths per 100,000 and Philadelphia had 1.25 deaths per 100,000.
While Albert said she understands that Philadelphia is significantly larger, she said that the proposed funding increases ignore other counties where the problem also is bad.
“The argument that Philly has the worst problem and should get the money is totally specious reasoning. It’s just not true,” Albert said. “Many counties, population percentage-wise, are coming up worse. So to unbalance that money is certainly not reasonable.”
Without the critical funding, Albert said that some of the local domestic violence programs may have to be cut or eliminated.
“We are the only domestic violence shelter in Fayette County. If would be a severe criticism of (Gov. Ed Rendell’s) administration if we are not here to serve the women and children who need us,” she said.
The shelter can house as many as 14 women and children at any given time, Albert said, and the projection for this fiscal year is that they will serve between 700 and 800 women and children. On Monday, she said the shelter was two beds shy of being completely full.
Women and children can stay in the shelter, the location of which is not disclosed, for up to 30 days in a six month period. The goal, said Albert, is to help them get on their feet, and ready to live a life independent of their abuser.
Albert said she has received support from state Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-South Union Township) and Sen. Rich Kasunic (D-Dunbar). She also indicated that she and other board members have made calls to the office of House Minority Leader Rep. H. William DeWeese, D-Waynesburg.
“We are counting on his help also in the vote to pass a budget which will be equitable in dealing with domestic violence programs around the state,” she indicated.
Since 2001, Albert said that state and federal funding for domestic violence programs have dwindled. She said people in Fayette County have been supportive in stepping forward to help fill in the gaps that would have occurred because of funding cuts, but said that the state needs to do its share.
During the upcoming year, Albert said the board will have to seek support from the community through a variety of fund-raisers they have planned. On Sept. 9, the board is hosting a jewelry bash and on Oct. 19 will host a Purple Tie Ball.
“We’re seeking support everywhere. We are out there looking for people, and we are planning some big fund-raisers,” she said.
Since 2004, Fayette had seven domestic violence-related deaths, according to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Included in those was the 2006 case in which Walter Fordyce was charged with attacking his live-in girlfriend with a microwave oven, and stomping her on April 13. The two got into an argument over a roast beef sandwich, and it escalated into allegations of infidelity.
Uniontown police alleged that Fordyce, 60, ultimately killed Mary McCann, 54.
That case has yet to be heard.
Others include the May 2005 deaths of Terri Lynn Gresko and Thomas Myers, who were run down while riding on a motorcycle on Route 21 by Gesko’s ex-boyfriend, and Michelle Cable, who was fatally shot by her ex-boyfriend in July 2004.
Edward Belch, who ran down Gresko and Myers with his truck, has since been convicted of third-degree murder in their deaths. James VanDivner, who killed Cable and seriously injured her son, was convicted of first-degree murder and has been sentenced to the death penalty.