[NEWS] Budget crisis continues to take toll

From the Philadelphia Tribune:

The state budget stalemate is taking its toll on nonprofits across the region.

The crisis is preventing federal dollars from being released for housing assistance programs, domestic abuse shelters, public education and various other human resources services that help working families.

This situation has caused Women Against Abuse (WAA), Philadelphia’s leading domestic violence advocate and service provider, to take out a line of credit to serve its clients. The organization provides safe havens for survivors of domestic violence, legal services, a 24-hour hotline and educational services.

Jeannie L. Lisitski, executive director and president of WAA, is concerned about the impact of the state budget impasse on domestic violence survivors who are seeking help. While WAA has been able to stay afloat, some domestic violence shelters around the state have been forced to close.

“We are just gravely concerned because we serve people from not only Pennsylvania but from all over the country, and a lot of times survivors will have to flee out of state,” Lisitski said. “So the less services that are available, the more burden gets put on us, and we already turn away 15,000 people from safe shelter a year.