Violence Against Women Act up for renewal

Local agencies voice concern about services if bill not reintroduced

MOSES LAKE — In the near future, victims of domestic violence who come to New Hope Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services seeking help may find there is not enough federal funding to get the care they need.

The Violence Against Women Act first passed in the Legislature in 1994 to tighten penalties for repeat offenders, provide additional money for domestic violence victims and offer assistance to battered women.

The act is up for renewal in September.

Under VAWA, domestic violence victims like those that New Hope Program Director, Pat Burleson, based in Moses Lake sees can be referred to receive services to which they otherwise wouldn't have access.

In the last two years, there has been a huge increase of domestic violence in Grant County, with 900 reported cases in 2003 and 1,213 in 2004, Burleson said.

It is most often women of immigrant families that come in search of assistance, she added.

According to the Department of Justice, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in the U.S. every day. More than 2.5 million women are victims of violence each year and nearly one in every three women experiences at least one physical assault by a partner during adulthood. Reports also indicate that up to 10 million children experience domestic violence in their homes each year.

With the possibility of VAWA not being renewed, New Hope is looking to partnerships with other area agencies to ensure victims have access to the services they need.

One such partnership has been with the North Columbia Community Action Council in Moses Lake that serves low-income families in Grant, Adams and Lincoln counties.

In conjunction with NCCAC and local attorneys' offices, New Hope has been able to offer pro bono services to some of its domestic violence victims.

"It's been overwhelmingly successful," said Ken Sterner, NCCAC executive director of the pro bono clinics.

Moses Lake attorney Julie Harper agreed with Sterner, adding that prior to 2005 there wasn't anything being offered in the county in the way of a pro bono program for needy families and individuals.

Just in the month of July alone, roughly 194 clients sought services through NCCAC, most of whom will be in need of legal services and knowing what to expect when they go to court, said Gricelda Ohrazda, coordinator of the program. The pro bono clinics started in Grant County in January, with possible plans to expand into Adams and Lincoln counties.