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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-10-18 Public Comment - E. Coyle (Haven) - Haven Proposal for City FundingFrom:Chris Mehl To:Agenda Subject:FW: HAVEN proposal Date:Sunday, June 10, 2018 3:35:04 PM Attachments:HAVEN City of Bozeman proposal.docx I received this proposal, which I think also was submitted last year (but after the budget deliberations). Chris Mehl Bozeman Deputy Mayor cmehl@bozeman.net 406.581.4992 ________________________________________ From: Erica Aytes Coyle [erica@havenmt.org] Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2018 8:47 PM To: Chris Mehl Subject: HAVEN proposal Hi Chris, Thanks for chatting with me today! Here is the proposal for the city funding. Erica Aytes Coyle Executive Director She/her pronouns HAVEN P.O. Box 752 Bozeman, MT 59771 24-Hour Support Line: 406-586-4111 Office: 406-586-7689 Fax: 406-586-0263 www.havenmt.org<http://www.havenmt.org/> Stay in the loop on HAVEN Happenings by following our Facebook page<http://www.facebook.com/home.php#%21/havenmt> Confidentiality Notice: The information in this e-mail, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient and may contain privileged and confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the contents of this information in any manner is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this message in error, delete it immediately and please contact the sender at the telephone number or e-mail address listed above. HAVEN City of Bozeman Funding Proposal In the span of 18 months, Bozeman lost four of its residents to domestic violence. Eight children were left without their mothers. HAVEN works to prevent such tragedies from happening, but we cannot end domestic violence alone. HAVEN applauds the City of Bozeman for educating its staff on how to prevent domestic violence, and the Mayor’s proclamation that Bozeman stands with survivors. HAVEN now respectfully requests unrestricted funding in the amount of $30,000 from the City to give tangible support to survivors. Last fiscal year, HAVEN served 980 survivors of domestic violence. Our organization provided shelter, responded to thousands of calls on our 24/7 support line, provided legal advocacy, helped survivors speak about their experiences in safe forums, and offered counseling to help victims heal from the trauma they experienced. We provided education on domestic violence warning signs and resources to our community, including teens, in an effort to interrupt the cycle of violence. But we know there is so much more work to be done. With Bozeman’s rapidly growing population, an estimated 325 survivors of domestic violence move to Bozeman each year. That is one potential HAVEN participant moving to the city nearly every day. To reach all of these new residents, and to provide them with the life-saving services they need, HAVEN must grow with the city. Beyond prioritizing community members’ safety, investing in domestic violence services has a financial benefit to the City of Bozeman. Last year, the Bozeman Police Department responded to 289 domestic violence calls, which represents a 78% increase in domestic violence calls over five years. The estimated cost to the department for responding officers’ salaries alone was $91,000. The financial loss to victims themselves is even greater; survivors living in Bozeman last year lost an estimated combined total of $4,013,556 in lost productivity, medical costs, and other expenses related to the abuse. Thankfully, funding for domestic violence programs has a strong return on investment. A Department of Justice study found that Orders of Protection can save each citizen $19.40 annually by preventing future law and justice costs from incurring. By investing in HAVEN, the City of Bozeman could slow the increasing cost of domestic violence crimes on our law enforcement, prosecution and court system. Local government funding for domestic violence organizations is common. Some examples across the country include Gainesville, Texas and Miami, Oklahoma. Gainesville has a population of just over 16,000 and will receive $45,000 in unrestricted funding next year, an amount divided between their local city and county governments. Miami has a population of 13,484 and receives $18,000. Of this $18,000, half is in the form of a utility credit and the other half is in unrestricted funds. Other domestic violence organizations, including those in large metropolitan areas such as Houston, receive many hundreds of thousands of dollars annually from their city governments. Bozeman is known for being a progressive leader in Montana. Our city has a history of making social issues a priority, helping create a safer community for all. By becoming the first city in our state to dedicate funds to the organizations empowering survivors of domestic violence, Bozeman would be setting a positive example for other Montanan cities. Thank you for considering this proposal, and for all you do to support survivors of abuse in Bozeman.