Law change could mean more funds for local domestic violence shelters

Representatives from Safe House for Women are asking local municipalities to take advantage of a recent change in state law that authorizes an increase in court costs for domestic violence shelters.

Since August, state law has allowed cities and counties with a shelter to collect up to $4 per case, instead of the $2 surcharge allowed in the past.

State statute provides for the surcharge to be applied to criminal cases, including violations of any county or municipal ordinance. The surcharge is not collected when the case or the defendant has been dismissed by the court, or when the court costs are to be paid by the state, county or municipality.

Executive director Jessica Hill and board of directors chairman Rick Althaus spoke to the Cape Girardeau City Council at its April 6 meeting about approving an increase. Hill said they also plan to speak to other local governments that fall within the shelter's service area, which includes Jackson, Scott City and Cape Girardeau and Bollinger counties.

Hill said in a Thursday phone interview the money Safe House receives from local cities and counties helps fulfill funding needs for various programs and services offered by the shelter.

"Virtually all of our funding that we receive through state and federal grants and the United Way and similar funding sources are all very strictly designated for specific purposes, but the funding we receive through our local communities is undesignated," she said. "It simply goes toward client services. So in areas where we don't have specific grant-funding sources, we're able to utilize the local money that's collected on our behalf to sort of fill in the gaps in our funding structure."

That being said, Safe House does have specific plans for the allocation of additional funds, should local municipalities choose to increase the surcharge.

One of the biggest needs reported by clients is childcare assistance, something the shelter is not able to provide with existing funds. Specifically, Hill said they would like to offer short-term childcare for women transitioning into the workforce.

"With our shelter, the moms need to have their children with them. They can't just leave the child unattended to go to a job interview or to a job placement service or something like that, so it makes it very challenging. You've got to be able to have a job to get childcare, but you've got to be able to have childcare to get a job, so it's very circular."

Another need that would be addressed is assisting clients with prescription drug costs. Hill said the shelter has a limited budget for that and often is unable to meet the full needs of clients.

Finally, the money could provide additional funding to cover costs of case management and court advocacy. Some grant funding is allocated to these services, but doesn't fully fund the two growing programs, Hill said.

Each of the items that stand to gain new or additional funding from the surcharge increase are ultimately designed to help clients lead successful, productive lives once they transition out of the shelter.

"[Our clients] want to be self-sufficient. They want to provide for their families and they want to make a new start," Hill said. "We want to do everything we can while they're with us to ensure that when they are ready to transition out of the shelter, they're really ready to hit the ground running."

Safe House's request was well received by the Cape Girardeau City Council, with Mayor Harry Rediger noting the "tremendous service" it has provided the community over the years. The council will vote tonight on an ordinance that would increase the surcharge to $4.

Council members did question what precautions Safe House was taking in regard to its finances, in light of the recent theft and fraud charges brought against former executive director Allison Leonard. Authorities say she misappropriated more than $20,000 for personal use.

Hill said Safe House has since evaluated all of its internal processes, drafted new fiscal policies and is in the process of bringing in an internal bookeeper.

"We've consulted very closely with our auditing firm and our accounting firm on the best way to proceed with all of our financial operations and we feel very confident, as I said to the city council, that we've addressed the vulnerabilities that were exposed in the past," Hill said.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

Cape Girardeau, Mo.