Impact on Women & Families   |  Donate Now   |  Email the Governor or your Legislators

The YWCA is working to raise awareness of budget cuts at the city, county and state levels that could impact human service organizations in our communities. The following letter was sent out to board members, Luncheon table captains and volunteers urging them to use their voice in support of programs that help women and families.

Thank you for supporting the needs of the YWCA and our community with both your philanthropy and your voice.

Your financial support has helped us leverage funds from public sources in the past.

Right now, during this critical time when city, county and state budgets are being determined, we need your voice again.

Last month, the Councils of King County and the City of Seattle approved their 2009 budgets. Many government agencies were forced to trim budgets; and the health and human service sectors are trying to address substantial cuts at a time when demand for services is at its highest.

The impact on the YWCA

Unfortunately, the YWCA is already feeling the effects of these cuts. Two impacts include:

• The Legal Advocate position for the YWCA domestic violence program in South King County will be eliminated. This program sustained major funding cuts from the County. Although some alternative funding has been received, there was no way to absorb these cuts without eliminating a position. This means that clients will not have immediate access to resources to help navigate the legal system as it relates to protection orders and child custody.
• Angeline’s Center for Homeless Women was not able to secure the additional $45,000 from the City of Seattle needed to maintain its current operating hours. Starting in January 2009, just when it is coldest and warm shelter is needed the most, Angeline’s will be forced to reduce its operating hours by one hour each day.

King County is looking to the State Legislature to help them find new funding sources to protect critical services during hard times.

We need your help again so that the voice of the nonprofit community is heard in Olympia.

What happens now?

On December 15, Governor Christine Gregoire will propose her 2009-2010 budget. She is taking public comment now. The YWCA is concerned that additional proposed budget cuts could result in permanent, long-term funding problems, not only to our agency but to our partner organizations as well. While these funds are in a “life boat,” King County is asking the State of Washington to help. Counties are looking for innovative ways to fund public safety, health and human services including:

• Focus the State’s funding on human services to provide assistance today. Invest funds in social services that can foster self-sufficiency. If we don’t invest in these self-sufficiency programs now, we will pay proportionally more for the consequences of women and families being in continual crisis in the future.
• Allow counties more options to stabilize revenue sources. The Governor and the State Legislature should permanently address structural funding gaps by allowing counties to develop new types of revenue sources that could grow more in proportion to the economy and cover the fixed costs of state services.
• Additional funding for counties should be considered so all counties can sustain equal access to all services for all people in need.

How you can help

Before December 15, let the Governor know that you support organizations like the YWCA. Encourage the State to find ways to keep funding services that are critical right now and to help counties find ways to fund them. Give public comment online at http://www.governor.wa.gov/contact.

Call or write to your representatives in the State Legislature and tell them that social and human services should be a priority for the 2009 budget. Encourage them to help counties find new revenue sources to protect these services during economic downturns. Find your legislators and their contact info at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/.

Please forward this to your friends and families and encourage them to use their voices in support of women and families.

Here is a brief email that can be copied and sent to your elected officials.

Thank you!