MANSFIELD, Ohio — Tuesday marked a financial victory for three local agencies dealing with domestic violence and crimes against women.
The Mansfield Domestic Violence Shelter, the Richland County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Mansfield Law Director’s Office, announced a significant increase in local funding to deal with those issues through government grants.
“We knew the government was going to release large amounts of money for victims of crime through the Victims of Crime Act and the Violence Against Women’s Act,” said Richland County Prosecutor Bambi Couch Page. “Our three offices joined together for a collaborative agreement so we could get more funding.
“They told us to shoot for the moon.”
Consider the shot a bull’s eye.
The prosecutor’s office will see its annual funding in the related programs increase from $78,957.40 to $123,768.38 from Oct. 1, 2015 through Sept. 30, 2016.
Mansfield’s domestic violence shelter received a huge bump from $97,000 to $397,000.
The law director’s office will get an increase from $46,000 to $61,000.
The new monies, which agencies expect will continue for the foreseeable future, arrive via Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s “Expanding Services and Empowering Victims Initiative.” The $51 million program is spread across 307 crime victim service providers throughout the state.
According to DeWine, the funds are being awarded as the result of a marked increase in Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant funding from the U.S. Department of Justice for 2015-2016. In fiscal year 2014-2015, Ohio received $15,993,857 in VOCA funding, as opposed to this fiscal year’s award of $69,888,068. The fund is financed by federal settlements, fines and fees.
“No matter where you live in this state, we want victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other crimes to have access to the essential services needed to report crimes, seek justice, and recover, DeWine said last week.
“Through this initiative, we will help crime victim service agencies throughout the state enhance the essential services they already provide to crime victims in Ohio, while also funding brand new programs that will help empower survivors to overcome their victimization.”
In Mansfield, Kathy Ezawa, executive director of Mansfield Domestic Violence Shelter, said her agency will increase staff by 35 percent, adding four full-time employees and three part-time jobs to serve approximately 1,250 survivors annually.
“This is the first increase we’ve seen in any funding since I’ve been director for the past eight years,” Ezawa said, noting the need for services has increased dramatically without the fiscal means to keep pace. “We had approximately 3,000 days of care in 2007 and 5,300 days of care in 2014.”
The shelter aims to meet survivors in hospitals, courthouses, police stations, campuses, etc. and offer the education and resources necessary for victims to deal with the violent situations they’ve encountered.
“This is a great day,” Mansfield law director John Spon said. “It means we are working collaboratively and not duplicating services.”
Hillary Brown, a victims of crime advocate, said the funding is a step in the right direction.
“I just think it’s great,” Brown said. “There is a huge need to help victims of crime.”
Couch Page noted her office will also increase staff through a matching program of volunteers that could be free to the county.
Ezawa said the increased staffing will help victims navigate the legal system and various programs to deal with domestic violence, sexual assault, teen dating violence and stalking.
“Victims are more aware of the services available to them,” Ezawa said. “But it’s not easy thing to come forward and trust the community will respond.”
The collaborative of local agencies believes the increased funding will address victims’ through increased community initiatives, expanded services, increased building security at the domestic violence shelter and technological upgrades.
