>>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
TODAY IS TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2019,
AND IT IS 12:05 P.M.
THIS IS A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
GENDER EQUITY, SAFE COMMUNITIES,
NEW AMERICANS, AND EDUCATION
COMMITTEES.
I'M COUNCILMEMBER LORENA
GONZALEZ AND JOINING ME IS MY
COHOST AND COMMITTEE MEMBER,
COUNCILMEMBER ABEL PACHECO.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME, AND
THANK YOU FOR THE PARTNERSHIP
AND THE COLLABORATION ON THIS
JOINT EFFORT TO FRAME UP THIS
CONVERSATION TODAY.
SO THERE'S A FEW WONKY
LOGISTICAL ROBERT RULES OF ORDER
I'VE GOT TO SAY.
THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED IF
THERE'S NO OBJECTION.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, TODAY'S
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON TODAY'S
AGENDA, AND THAT IS TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION WITH OUR FRIENDS AT
THE COALITION AGAINST
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE, NEW
BEGINNINGS, AND THE WASHINGTON
STATE COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND THE SEATTLE CITY
ATTORNEY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT
AND THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT'S VICTIM SUPPORT UNIT
TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ON
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT
SERVICES AND GAPS IN THE SYSTEM.
WE'LL BE HOLDING PUBLIC COMMENT
AT THE END OF TODAY'S LUNCH AND
LEARN.
SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND BEGIN WITH
THE PANEL FIRST AND THEN WE'LL
DO PUBLIC COMMENT LAST.
SO I WILL ASK ROXANA TO READ
AGENDA ITEM ONE INTO THE RECORD.
AND THEN I WOULD INVITE FOLKS
FROM -- HERE REPRESENTING THOSE
ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE YOUR WAY
TO THE TABLE AS SHE DOES THAT.
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE, DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE SERVICES AND GAPS FOR
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU, ROXANA.
AND WE HAVE OUR FRIENDS MAKING
THEIR WAY UP TO THE COMMITTEE
TABLE.
AND THEN YOU'LL JUST -- I JUST
ASK THAT YOU NOT SIT IN THIS
FIRST SEAT BECAUSE THAT'S
ROXANA'S SEAT.
BUT OTHERWISE, ANY SEAT YOU'D
LIKE.
AND THEN WE DO HAVE A POWERPOINT
PRESENTATION, YES?
SO ROXANA WILL HELP WITH MAKING
SURE THAT IS FIRED UP FOR US.
AND THEN SOMEBODY WILL NEED TO
SIT CLOSE TO THAT COMPUTER TO
DRIVE.
GREAT.
OKAY.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVEN'T
JOINED US AT THE TABLE BEFORE,
YOU'LL NEED TO SPEAK DIRECTLY
INTO THE MICROPHONE.
OFTEN THYMES YOU HAVE TO GET IT
UNCOMFORTABLY CLOSE TO YOUR
MOUTH, BUT THAT'S -- THEY'RE
SENSITIVE BUT NOT SO SENSITIVE
ENOUGH THAT YOU CAN BE FAR AWAY
FROM THEM.
THERE'S ALSO A LITTLE BUTTON ON
THE STEM THAT'S GRAY.
AND THAT'S HOW YOU TURN THE
MICROPHONE ON OR OFF IN ORDER
FOR IT TO BE ON THE BUTTON
SHOULD BE GREEN.
SO JUST MAKE SURE IT'S -- THE
LITTLE LIGHT IS GREEN IF IT'S
FOOT.
SO WE WILL GO AHEAD AND START
WITH A ROUND OF INTRODUCTIONS
AND THEN PERHAPS COUNCILMEMBER
PACHECO AND I CAN MAKE
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS AND THEN
WE'LL KICK IT OVER TO YOU ALL TO
LEAD US THROUGH THE
PRESENTATION.
SO LET'S GO WITH INTRODUCTIONS
FIRST.
SO NAME AND ORGANIZATION THAT
YOU'RE HERE REPRESENTING.
>> I'M KATHERINE, I'M A
PROSECUTOR WITH THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
>> I'M ROSA, A VICTIM ADVOCATE
FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
>> COUSIN WITH THE COALITION
ENDING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
HERE IN SEATTLE KING COUNTY.
>> I'M SUSAN SEE GEL WITH NEW
BEGINNING.
>> JUDY CHEN, WASHINGTON STATE
COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE.
>> I'M DANA, I'M WITH THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
>> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR
BEING HERE.
SO ONE OF THE CENTRAL AREAS THAT
MY COMMITTEE FOCUSES ON ARE
ISSUES RELATED TO GENDER EQUITY
AS PART -- AND ALSO THE
INTERSECTION OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I
HAVE THE PLEASURE OF DOING
SERVING ON THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
PREVENTION COUNCIL WITH SOME OF
YOU, IN FACT, AND WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY IN THAT ROOM TO TALK
BOTH ABOUT THE WORK THAT THE
CITY AND THE REGION IS DOING
TOGETHER TO PREVENT DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND TO SUPPORT THE
RESILIENCE AND THE RECOVERY OF
THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY
EXPERIENCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
WE ALSO TALK A LOT ABOUT ISSUES
RELATED TO SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE
SAME SORT OF VEIN.
BUT TODAY WE REALLY WANTED TO
FOCUS ON THE ISSUES AROUND
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HOW THE
SYSTEM IS OR ISN'T WORKING FOR
SURVIVORS OR CURRENT VICTIMS OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND WHAT THE
CITY COUNCIL IN PARTICULAR COULD
DO TO BETTER SUPPORT
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE YOURS THAT
REALLY DO A FANTASTIC JOB OF
WORKING WITH INTERNAL AGENCIES
LIKE THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ON REALLY
ACCOMPLISHING THE WORK OF
INVESTING IN AND ENSURING THE
RECOVERY OF VICTIMS AND
SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
AND REALLY APPRECIATE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION WITH COUNCILMEMBER
PACHECO ABOUT HIS INTEREST IN
THIS SPACE AS WELL.
AND REALLY HAPPY WE WERE ABLE TO
PARTNER TOGETHER ON AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HOST THIS
CONVERSATION AND TO HEAR
DIRECTLY FROM YOU ALL ABOUT WHAT
WE'RE DOING WELL AND WHAT WE
COULD DO MORE OF.
AND OF COURSE, THIS IS ALL IN
ANTICIPATION OF WA WILL BE THE
BUDGET PROCESS THAT KICKS OFF AT
THE END OF SEPTEMBER AND WE
ALWAYS -- I HAVE ALWAYS
PRIORITIZED MAKING ADDITIONAL
INVESTMENTS OR PROTECTING PRIOR
INVESTMENTS IN THIS SPACE.
AND WANTED TO BE A LITTLE BIT
MORE PROACTIVE ABOUT THOSE
EFFORT THIS IS TIME AROUND.
COUNCILMEMBER PACHECO, IS THERE
ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?
I CAUGHT YOU AT A BAD -- I DID
THE THING WHERE I CAUGHT YOU
JUST --
>> NO, I JUST THANK YOU ALL FOR
BEING HERE AND THANK
COUNCILMEMBER CON GALLESS FOR
STARTING THIS DISCUSSION.
I'M HOPING TO BE, AS SHE SAID,
IN PREPARATION FOR THE BUDGET
AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT,
BUT ALSO ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS.
THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WHO WANTS TO LEAD US OFF?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS JUDY CHEN, I'M WITH
THE WASHINGTON STATE COALITION
AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
AND I THINK THERE ARE SLIDES?
YES.
I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF BEING THE
ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF --
MEMBER PROGRAMS AROUND THE STATE
SERVING ALL 39 COUNTIES AND
SEVERAL TRIBES.
OF OUR 70 PLUS MEMBER PROGRAMS,
ACTUALLY ONLY 42 ARE NOW WA WE
THINK OF AS TRADITIONAL DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE, SHELTER-BASED PROGRAMS
THAT HAVE STATE CONTRACTS.
THE BALANCE ARE COMMUNITY-BASED
PROGRAMS AND REMOTE RURAL
COMMUNITIES, TRIBES, AND
CULTURALLY SPECIFIC COMMUNITIES.
AND ACTUALLY A FULL THIRD ARE
CULTURALLY SPECIFIC OR TRIABLE.
WE HAVE PEOPLE DOING AMAZING
WORK.
YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE AMAZING
WORK PEOPLE ARE DOING, NOT JUST
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE EMERGENCY
SERVICES, BUT ALSO WORKING WERE
FAIR WAGES.
YOU CAN SEE THAT'S A TOTE
TESTIMONY POLE CARVED AT A
RESERVATION.
NEXT PLEASE.
WE'RE MOVING FROM BEING
NATIONALLY FROM BEING REACTIVE
TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THE
CRISIS OF VIOLENCE TO MOVING
UPSTREAM SO THAT ALL PEOPLE CAN
LIVE AND LIVE FREELY WITHOUT
FEAR.
TO DO THAT, WE ARE REALLY
ROOTING IN CORNERSTONES OF RACE
EQUITY, ECONOMIC JUSTICE, AND
GENDER AND REPRODUCTIVE
LIBERATION.
AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE
LOOKING AT NEW PATHWAYS AROUND,
FOR EXAMPLE, RETHINKING CRIMINAL
LEGAL SOLUTIONS TO VIOLENCE SO
THAT THERE ARE MORE OPTIONS FOR
FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR.
THE COALITION IS THE LEADING
VOICE, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
SUPPORTING MEMBERS, ENGAGING THE
PUBLIC, AND DOING WORK.
I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR
YOUR WORK ON ECONOMIC JUSTICE
AND JUST I'M SO DIETED -- NEXT
SLIDE PLEASE -- ABOUT WHAT ARE
NOW STATEWIDE RIGHTS THAT
SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING
HAVE TO NOT BE FIRED FROM THEIR
JOB BECAUSE OF THEIR
VICTIMIZATION OR FOR SEEKING
HELP, FOR EXAMPLE.
WE HAVE A NEW GUIDE FOR FAMILIES
AND FRIENDS WE KNOW FROM
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FATALITY DATA.
AND DOING ALMOST TWO DECADES OF
REVIEWING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
HOMICIDES AND MURDER-SUICIDES
THAT SURVIVORS GO TO THEIR
FRIENDS AND FAMILY WAY MORE THAN
THEY GO TO OTHER SOURCES IN THE
COMMUNITY.
SO REACHING FAMILY AND FRIENDS,
BOTH FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
STRUGGLING WITH SURVIVORING
ABUSE, AND PEOPLE STRUGGLING
WITH HURTING SOMEONE ELSE.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS 100%
PREVENTABLE.
THAT'S OUR MESSAGE.
IT'S 100% PREVENTABLE.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MANY
OF YOU AT THE 5K AT T-MOBILE
PARK, MAR THE NERS, THIS
SATURDAY.
AND WE'RE ALSO EXCITED ABOUT THE
WORK WE'VE BEEN DOING STATEWIDE
WITH THE REFUSE TO USE PROGRAM
AND OUR PREVENTION WORK TO REACH
PEOPLE, YOUNG PEOPLE, IN ALL 39
COUNTY OF THE STATE WITH
EVIDENCE-BASED AND PROMISING
PRACTICES AROUND PREVENTION.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SUPPORTING OUR MEMBER PROGRAMS
IS OUR OTHER BUCKET.
AND WHAT I WANT TO CALL YOUR
ATTENTION TO IT MAINLY IS THE
MOBILE ADVOCACY WORK THAT IS A
PROMISING PRACTICE.
WE'RE GATHERING EVIDENCE THAT
I'LL TALK ABOUT IN A LITTLE BIT
THROUGH RESEARCH STUDY, AND JUST
SO PLEASED THAT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE HAS BEEN A LEADER IN
SUPPORTING MOBILE ADVOCACY TO
REACH SURVIVORS SO THAT, SO, YOU
KNOW, JUST WA WE KNOW IS THAT
WHEN SOMEBODY IS SURVIVING
ABUSE, YOU KNOW, TRADITIONALLY
PEOPLE HAVE TO GO TO AN OFFICE
ACROSS TOWN WITH THEIR KIDS ON
THE BUS.
MAY NOT HAVE THE BUS MONEY.
YOU GET THERE, YOU GO AND YOU'RE
TELLING A STRANGER ABOUT THE
MOST INTIMATE AND OFTEN
EMBARRASSING DETAILS OF YOUR
LIFE AND WHAT YOU'VE BEEN
DEALING WITH.
AND FOR MANY PEOPLE BEING ABLE
TO GO SOME PLACE IS IMPORTANT.
BUT FOR SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING
SOMEONE TO COME TO WHERE THEY
ARE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY DON'T
HAVE A CAR, THEY HAVE TO STAY
HOME WITH THEIR KIDS, OR THEY
WORK THE NIGHT SHIFT, IT'S JUST
SO DIFFICULT TO GET TO A
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SOCIAL SERVICE
AGENCY AND HAVING SOMEONE COME
TO THEM OR MEET THEM AT
McDONALD'S AND THEIR KIDS CAN
PLAY, WHATEVER IT IS TO BE ABLE
TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON
AND GETTING HELP, THAT THAT IS A
PROMISING PRACTICE THAT REACHES
SO MANY MORE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY
PEOPLE WHO DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH
OR HAVE OTHER BARRIERS SUCH AS
DISABILITIES.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AND THEN OUR THIRD BUCKET IS
AROUND VISIONARY LEADERSHIP AND
REALLY RECOGNIZING THAT DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE TO END DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE WE NEED TO HAVE GOOD
JOBS.
PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE GOOD JOBS
WHERE THEY CAN EARN LIVING WAGES
AND HAVE SAFE TIME OFF OF WORK
SO THEY CAN GO AND GET HELP.
THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE
WORKING IN THE FIELDS PICKING
THE APPLES AND ALL THE FRUITS
THAT ARE ON OUR -- GRACE OUR
TABLES, THAT THEY DESERVE HELP
TOO.
AND THAT FOR SURVIVORS AND
VICTIMS LIKE CHARLEENA LYLES
KILLED IN SEATTLE A FEW YEARS
AGO, THAT SURVIVING VIOLENCE AND
HAVING COMPLEX ISSUES IN THEIR
LIVES, THAT THOSE ARE FOLKS WHO
NEED HELP AND NEED HELP THAT
MAKES SENSE FOR THEM AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO, HEY, THIS IS THE LAST ONE.
SO ONE OF THE QUESTION THAT IS
WE OFTEN GET IS WHAT WILL REDUCE
VIOLENCE AND REPAIR THE HARM AND
THE TRAUMA THAT FAMILIES
EXPERIENCE FROM PEOPLE WHO USE
ABUSIVE BEHAVIORS?
ONE OF THE THINGS WE NOTE, YOU
SEE THIS IMAGE OF THIS WAS A
SNAPSHOT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
HOMICIDES AND MURDER-SUICIDES IN
WASHINGTON STATE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE KNOW FROM
MANY YEARS OF GATHERING THIS
DATA, IS THAT PERPETRATORS USE
GUNS MORE OFTEN THAN ANY OTHER
WEAPON COMBINED.
AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER
STATES IS THAT WHEN PEOPLE WHO
ARE DANGEROUS ABUSERS HAVE THOSE
WEAPONS REMOVED THAT THERE IS A
REDUCTION IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
FATALITY.
AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, HARM FROM
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ABUSERS IS ONE
OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH
FOR WOMEN IN THE U.S. FROM
SOMEONE THAT THEY KNOW.
WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO EXPAND
COMMUNITY ACCOUNTABILITY AND
HAVE IT NOT JUST BE THAT THE
SURVIVOR'S ACCOUNTABLE FOR
ENDING THE VIOLENCE, BUT WHOLE
COMMUNITY IS PART OF THAT.
WE KNOW THAT SAFE AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IS ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE
ISSUES FACING SURVIVORS, AND
IT'S ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES
OF HOMELESSNESS FOR WOMEN AND
CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES.
WE KNOW THAT SURVIVORS OFTEN SAY
FOR THOSE WHO ARE ABLE TO LEAVE
AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP, WHAT
SURVIVORS HAVE TOLD US IN FOCUS
GROUPS, IS THAT ONE OF THE MAIN
REASONS THAT THEY HAVE TO RETURN
IS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD
LIFE -- HEALTH INSURANCE, THEY
CAN'T AFFORD RENT, THEY CAN'T
AFFORD TO NOT LIVE WITH THAT
ABUSIVE PERSON.
SO LIVING WAGES AND EMPLOYMENT
RIGHTS ARE KEY.
IN TERMS OF NEEDS THAT CITY
COUNCIL MIGHT CONSIDER, RELIABLE
NONCOMPETITIVE FUNDING THAT
FOCUSES ON BEST AND PROMISING
PRACTICES INCLUDING MOBILE
ADVOCACY AND FLEXIBLE FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, TO BE ABLE TO
STAY IN YOUR OWN APARTMENT.
BUT THOSE ARE PROMISING
PRACTICES THAT SHOULD BE
CONTINUED TO BE ENCOURAGED.
AND WE WILL -- WE'RE ACTUALLY, I
HAVE SOME HANDOUTS FOR THE
COUNCIL AND FOR PARTICIPANTS
TODAY ABOUT WHAT IS DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE HOUSING FIRST.
BUT WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT
OFTENTIMES PEOPLE CAN STAY IN
THEIR OWN PLACE WITH NOT A LOT
OF INVESTMENT COMPARED TO WHAT
IT COST TO KEEP PEOPLE
IN 24/7 SHELTER.
SO SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, IT'S
ALWAYS SAD TO HEAR -- TO HAVE A
SURVIVOR CALL AND SAY I KNOW I'M
GOING TO BE EVICTED BECAUSE I
CAN'T AFFORD THE RENT OR I'M OR
I HAD A BIG DEBT COME UP THAT I
NEED TO PAY OFF.
AND SO I'M CALLING AHEAD TO SEE
IF YOU KNOW OF ANY SHELTERS
WHERE I COULD GO.
AND YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENS TO
PEOPLE ONCE THEY HAVE AN
EVICTION ON THEIR RENTAL RECORD
OR THEIR CREDIT, RIGHT?
IT'S VERY HARD TO KEEP YOUR
FAMILY STABLE.
SO WE'RE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THE
RESULTS OF THIS -- OF THE
PRELIMINARY EVALUATION,
ACTUALLY, I SHOULDN'T SAY
PRELIMINARY.
MANY YEARS OF EVALUATION THAT
WE'VE DONE, INCLUDING THAT 96%
OF SURVIVORS WERE ABLE TO RETAIN
HOUSING AFTER 18 MONTHS.
SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THE BILL
AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION AND
THE FEDS TO DO A STUDY AND THE
RESULTS WILL BE COMPLETE IN
2021.
BUT WE'D BE HAPPY TO COME BACK
OR SHARE WITH YOUR OFFICES AT
ANOTHER TIME.
WE'LL HAVE SOME SHORT-TERM
HOUSING OUTCOME RESULTS IN
DECEMBER AS WELL AS SOME DATA ON
THE IMPACT OF THE FLEXIBLE
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
>> THAT WOULD BE GREAT TO BE
ABLE TO GET A PREVIEW OF SOME OF
THOSE OPTIONS.
I KNOW THAT NOT ONLY STATEWIDE
AND NATIONALLY ONE OF THE
LEADING CAUSES OF WOMEN AND
CHILDREN ENTERING INTO A STATE
OF EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IS
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE --
>> CORRECT.
>> -- AND YOU KNOW, SEATTLE IS
NOT AN OUTLIER, UNFORTUNATELY,
IN TERMS OF THAT STATISTIC.
IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT A LARGE
PORTION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN
FACING AND EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS IN OUR OWN CITY AND
IN THE COUNTY CAN SAY THE SAME
THING.
MANY OF THEM HAVE REPORTED
EXPERIENCING VIOLENCE IN THE
HOME, EITHER A YOUTH, YOU KNOW,
WHO HAS EXPERIENCED VIOLENCE AT
HOME OR PARTNER ON PARTNER
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
FOR US TO GET A REALLY CLEAR
UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THAT
IMPACTS HOUSING STABILITY FOR
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
UNFORTUNATELY TRYING TO BREAK
THIS CYCLE OF VIOLENCE AND
NEEDING ALL OF THE SUPPORT THEY
NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AND I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE ALL
AWARE OF THIS OR NOT BUT
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD IS LEADING
A CONVERSATION ABOUT POTENTIAL
LEGISLATION AT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE TO FURTHER EXTEND SOME
PROTECTIONS TO VICTIMS OF
DEATHIC VIOLENCE IN THE AREA OF
EVICTION.
SO REALLY IMPORTANT
CONVERSATION.
AND I BELIEVE SHE JUST KICKED
OFF THAT CONVERSATION IN HER
COMMITTEE LAST WEEK.
AND I BELIEVE IT'S IN HER
COMMITTEE.
BUT WE'LL MAKE SURE TO SHARE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WITH YOU
ALL TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE HAS
THE BENEFIT OF THIS WONDERFUL
INFORMATION ABOUT PARTICULAR
PROMISING PRACTICES IN THE
HOUSING FIRST MODEL THAT IS
UNIQUE TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
EITHER AT RISK OF EXPERIENCING
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR WHO ARE
ACTIVELY EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE OR RECOVERING.
WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS ON
YOUR ALL'S COLLECTIVE RADAR THAT
THERE'S AN EFFORT AT THE CITY TO
REALLY TACKLE THIS EVICTION
COMPLEXITY RELATED TO PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
>> WELL, WE'RE QUITE EXCITED
ABOUT WHAT WE HEAR FROM
SURVIVORS AROUND HOW THIS HAS
INCREASED THEIR SAFETY AND
REDUCED FURTHER VICTIMIZATION IN
THE DATA.
SO WE'LL BE GLAD TO -- MORE ON
THAT.
I THOUGHT THE COUNCIL MIGHT BE
PARTICULARLY INTERESTED ABOUT
REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS,
ABOUT 22% OF THE PARTICIPANTS.
I DID NOT PRINT OUT THE 134-PAGE
REPORT, BUT IT IS ONLINE.
LASTLY, YOU KNOW, OUR TWO
FURTHER POINTS AND THEN I'LL
YIELD TO OR TURN TO MY
COLLEAGUES IS THAT LACK OF
CAPACITY FOR MEETING BASIC HUMAN
NEEDS FOR SURVIVORS AND THEIR
CHILDREN CONTINUES TO BE A HUGE
PROBLEM STATEWIDE.
THEIR TURN AWAY RATES ARE
TREMENDOUS IN OUR STATE.
AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT BUILDING
MORE AND MORE AND MORE SHELTER
ISN'T THE ANSWER.
THERE WILL NEVER BE ENOUGH
EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR THE NEED.
IF WE ARE MEETING PEOPLE AFTER
THEY HAVE ALL OF THE VIOLENCE
HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY AND
ALL OF THEIR RESOURCES HAVE GONE
DOWN.
THEY HAVE NO MONEY LEFT, NO
FRIENDS OR FAMILY WHO THEY'RE
CONNECTED WITH BECAUSE WE KNOW
ISOLATION IS THE FIRST THING TO
KICK IN.
AND THAT IS IF WE ARE SEEING
PEOPLE AT THAT POINT, THEIR
NEEDS ARE TREMENDOUS AND IT'S SO
HARD TO FULFILL THOSE NEEDS.
WHEN WE GO UPSTREAM AND HELP
PEOPLE BEFORE THEY'VE BEEN
EVICTED, BEFORE THE VIOLENCE HAS
PEAKED, BEFORE THEIR CHILDREN
HAVE EXPERIENCED TREMENDOUS
TRAUMA, THAT IS -- THAT'S THE
PROMISE OF WHAT WE COULD DO, AND
THOSE KINDS OF INVESTMENTS AND
PREVENTION AND EARLIER
INTERVENTIONS MAKE A HUGE
DIFFERENCE.
AND LASTLY, RETHINKING CRIMINAL
LEGAL SOLUTIONS TO VIOLENCE IS
SOMETHING THAT WE'RE BEGINNING
TO ENGAGE A LOT MORE WITH OUR
COLLEAGUES AROUND THE STATE AND
THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM AS
WELL AND COMMUNITIES KNOWING
THAT FOR SO MANY PEOPLE THAT
NEEDS TO BE AN OPTION.
AND ALL OF US AS CITIZENS AND
RESIDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO
ACCESS CRIMINAL -- THE CRIMINAL
LEGAL SYSTEM TO PROTECT
OURSELVES, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE
SOMETHING ELSE ON THE MENU
BESIDES THAT.
THERE NEEDS TO BE OTHER OPTIONS.
SO REALLY LOOKING AT HOUSING,
LIVING WAGES, ECONOMIC OPTIONS,
OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL FAMILIES.
THANK YOU.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT HIGHLIGHT,
THAT LAST POINT, BECAUSE I KNOW
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF
CONVERSATION WITHIN THIS
COMMUNITY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE
VIABILITY OF, IN THAT CRIMINAL
LEGAL CONVERSATION, HOW DO WE --
IF THE CONVERSATION HAS BEEN
HISTORICALLY FOCUSED ON VICTIMS
AND VICTIMS ONLY, ARE WE LEAVING
OTHER CREATIVE INNOVATIVE
OPTIONS ON THE TABLE THAT COULD
FALL INTO THE RUBRIC OF
PREVENTIVE MEASURE THAT IS WE
COULD TAKE INTO PLACE TO PREVENT
THE VIOLENCE FROM OCCURRING IN
THE FIRST PLACE WHICH IS REALLY
WHAT I THINK THE INTEREST AND
THE GOAL ULTIMATELY IS AS
OPPOSED TO HAVING THE BLUNT
INSTRUMENT OF, YOU KNOW,
PUNITIVELY PENALIZING PEOPLE WHO
MIGHT ACTUALLY BE SUSCEPTIBLE
AND AMENABLE TO SOME OTHER TYPE
OF INTERVETION THAT IS NOT
QUITE AS A BLUNT INSTRUMENT.
NOT SAYING THAT THAT IS THE
ANSWER TO EVERY SINGLE
SITUATION, BUT CERTAINLY, YOU
KNOW, APPRECIATE THE SPIRIT OF
HAVING CONVERSATIONS THAT LEND
THEMSELVES TO A MORE LISTIC
APPROACH TO BE ABLE TO REALLY
COMMIT TO THESE ISSUES.
>> IF I COULD ADDRESS THAT POINT
VERY BRIEFLY, BECAUSE I KNOW MY
TIME IS PROBABLY UP, I THINK ONE
OF THE LENSES THAT I TRY TO LOOK
AT IT WITH IS, OF COURSE, WE
WANT PEOPLE WHO ARE CAUSING HARM
AND THROUGH CRIMINAL ACTIVITY TO
BE ACCOUNTABLE.
AND WE KNOW THAT THERE'S -- IT'S
A VERY COMPLEX ISSUE AND THAT
FOR SO MANY SURVIVORS -- SO I
WANT THAT ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND FOR MANY SURVIVORS THEY
CAN'T ACCESS THAT SYSTEM SAFELY.
SO WHAT ABOUT THEM?
>> YEAH, YEAH.
ABSOLUTELY.
EXCELLENT POINT.
COUNCILMEMBER PACHECO, ANYTHING
BEFORE WE MOVER TO THE NEXT
ORGANIZATION?
OKAY, GREAT.
>> I'M UP NEXT.
I THINK -- SO AGAIN, MY NAME IS
MERRILL COUSIN AND I HAVE THE
HONOR SERVING AS THE DIRECTOR
FOR THE COALITION ENDING
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE.
WE EXPANDED OUR MISSION TO
INCLUDE SEXUAL ASSAULT AND ABUSE
AND OTHER FORMS OF GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE IN OUR MISSION.
SO ARE A PARALLEL SISTER AGENCY
TO THE STATE COALITION AND OUR
STATE SEXUAL ASSAULT COALITION
WORKING AT THE REGIONAL, SO
SEATTLE, KING COUNTY LEVEL ON
THESE ISSUES.
AND THIS IS JUST A LIST OF --
THIS ISN'T EVEN ALL OF OUR
MEMBERS.
THESE ARE OUR MEMBER PROGRAMS
THAT PROVIDE SOME KIND OF
SERVICES TO SURVIVORS OF GENDER
H-BASED VIOLENCE, SO SURVIVORS
OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, COMMERCIAL
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND
TRAFFICKING, AND ALSO LGBTQ
VIOLENCE.
AND LIKE THE STATE COALITION --
AND MANY OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS
ARE ALSO MEMBER OF THE STATE
COALITION.
AND SO WE DEFINITELY WORK IN
PARTNERSHIP AND A LOT OF WHAT
THE STATE COALITION DOES IS SORT
OF SET THE BROADER OR THE STATE
COALITION SET THE SORT OF
BROADER VISION AND STATEWIDE
AGENDA.
AND THEN WE WORK WITH OUR
MEMBERS HERE IN SEATTLE AND KING
COUNTY TO SUPPORT THEIR
IMPLEMENTATION.
SO EVERYTHING THAT JUDY SAID
ABOUT SORT OF THE ROOTS AND SORT
OF HOW WE APPROACH THIS WORK IS
BEING ROOTED IN RACIAL,
ECONOMIC, GENDER, AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE.
I THINK WOULD HOLD FOR US.
AND LIKE THE STATE COALITION, WE
DO NOT PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES
OURSELVES.
OUR -- WE WORK WITH OUR OUR
MEMBER PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT THEM
TO DO THE WORK OF SUPPORTING
INDIVIDUAL SURVIVORS AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
SO OUR MISSION IS TO END
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND
PROMOTE EQUITABLE RELATIONSHIPS
THROUGH COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR
SOCIAL CHANGE AND LIKE THE STATE
COALITION WE IDENTIFY SEVERAL
BUCKETS OF HOW OUR WORK FITS.
AND WE DO THAT BY LEADING POLICY
EFFORTS AT THE CITY AND COUNTY
LEVEL BY CONNECTING OUR MEMBERS
WITH EACH OTHER TO SHARE
RESOURCES, COORDINATE SERVICES,
SET COMMON AGENDAS AROUND LOCAL
POLICY ISSUES.
AND ALSO TO CONNECT OUR MEMBERS
TO THE OTHER HUMAN SERVICES
ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS WORKING FOR
IMMIGRANT JUSTICE, RACIAL AND
ECONOMIC JUSTICE.
AND THEN FINALLY WE ALSO WORK TO
BUILD THE CAPACITY OF OUR MEMBER
PROGRAMS -- PROFESSIONALS AND
FOLKS IN COMMUNITIES WO COME
INTO CONTACT WITH SURVIVORS AND
THEIR FAMILIES.
SOME PARTICULAR AREAS OF FOCUS
THAT WE HAVE HAD SOME DEDICATED
STAFF TIME WORKING ON REVOLVE
AROUND ISSUES RELATED TO FAMILY
LAW, THE INTERSECTION OF
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE, HOUSING
AND HOMELESSNESS IS OUR NEWEST.
WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN INVOLVED IN
THAT WORK, AND WE JUST TODAY
ACTUALLY OUR NEW HOUSING SERVICE
SYSTEMS COORDINATOR JUST
STARTED.
WE GOT FUNDED THROUGH HUD
ACTUALLY TO DO THAT WORK.
SO WE'LL DEFINITELY BE
CONNECTING WITH THE WORK THAT
THE COUNCIL WANTS TO BE DOING ON
THAT.
>> CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
AND WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN HAVING
SOME FOCUSED CONVERSATIONS AMONG
OUR MEMBERS AROUND
TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE
ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION,
AND ENGAGING COMMUNITIES IN MORE
PROACTIVELY RESPONDING TO AND
PREVENTING GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE.
AND RAISING UP THE WORK OF THE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE DOING
THAT.
AND SO NEXT, SO WE HEAR ALL THE
TIME FROM OUR MEMBERS AND A FEW
YEARS AGO WE DID FOCUS GROUPS
FROM -- OF SURVIVORS.
AND IT'S WHAT YOU ALL KNOW, AND
ECHOING WHAT JUDY SAID.
I'VE ONLY KNOWN YOU FOR, WHAT,
27 YEARS?
YOU KNOW, THE -- WE ARE SO LUCKY
IN THIS COMMUNITY TO HAVE SO
MANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE, YOU
KNOW, THAT ARE PROVIDED JUST A
WHOLE HOST OF SERVICES, MANY OF
THEM ROOTED IN SPECIFIC RACIAL
ETHNIC AND CULTURAL COMMUNITIES,
OTHERS SERVING SPECIFIC
GEOGRAPHIC AREAS.
AND IT MEANS THERE REALLY ARE A
LOT OF OPTIONS OUT THERE FOR
SURVIVORS, AND EVERYONE IS
STRETCHED BEYOND CAPACITY.
AND SO DEFINITELY, I MEAN,
THANKS LARGELY, YOU KNOW,
SIGNIFICANTLY TO YOUR WORK WE
HAVE EXPANDED THE LEVEL OF
SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE,
PARTICULARLY FOCUSED AROUND THE
SURVIVOR-DRIVEN MOBILE FLEXIBLE
ADVOCACY.
AND THERE'S STILL MORE THAT'S
NEEDED.
AND BASICALLY, THE RANGE OF
HOUSING OPTIONS IS SORT OF ONE
OF THE NUMBER ONE THINGS WE HEAR
FROM SURVIVORS.
LEGAL ADVOCACY AND
REPRESENTATION, ESPECIALLY, AND
NOT SO MUCH NOT AS MUCH AROUND
THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM AS WE
HEAR ABOUT IT RELATED TO FAMILY
LAW AND IMMIGRATION ISSUES, THAT
THAT'S WHERE SURVIVORS ARE
REALLY BEING IMPACTED FOR THE
LONG TERM.
>> SO ARE THOSE ISSUES RELATED
TO DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS OR CAN
YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT THE PARTICULARS OF THE
COMPLEXITIES?
>> YEAH, SO MOSTLY FAMILY LAW.
SO MOSTLY DIVORCE OR
DISILLUSION, CUSTODY, PEOPLE WHO
HAVE ABUSED THEIR PARTNERS.
THE MAJORITY OF CONTESTED
CUSTODY CASES INVOLVE DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND OFTENTIMES IT PAY
BE THE FIRST TIME THAT THE
VIOLENCE IS DISCLOSED IS IN A
DIVORCE PROCEEDING, BECAUSE IT'S
THE FIRST TIME THAT IT'S BEEN
SAFE TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
SO THERE IS NOT NECESSARILY A
LOT OF OTHER EVIDENCE.
AND THE -- THERE'S A LOT OF
FOCUS IN OUR FAMILY COURT ON
COOPERATION BETWEEN PARENTS AND
SO SOME OF THE, I THINK,
ORIENTATIONS OF THE COURT THAT
MAY BE THERE FOR VERY GOOD
REASONS, LIKE WHEN DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE IS HAPPENING AND NOT
UNDERSTANDING THE TRAUMA THAT
THE SURVIVOR IS OFTEN
EXPERIENCED.
IT CAN REALLY WORK AGAINST
SURVIVORS.
AND WE'RE REALLY SEEING
SURVIVORS STRUGGLE IN THAT
SYSTEM.
WE'RE ALSO SEEING PEOPLE WHO ARE
ABUSIVE BECOMING REALLY ADEPT AT
USING THE SYSTEM TO FURTHER
THEIR ABUSE.
AND SO BASICALLY IT'S ATTACK
TICK OF CONTROL TO KEEP THE
PROCEEDINGS GOING IF THE
SURVIVOR HAS RESOURCES.
WE HAVE SEEN FOLKS LITERALLY, I
MEAN, AGAIN, HEARING ABOUT IT
THROUGH OUR MEMBER PROGRAMS,
SPENDING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS OVER YEARS AND YEARS
TRYING TO PROTECT THEIR KIDS.
IN THE COURT SYSTEM AND
CONSTANTLY BEING PULLED BACK
THE.
SO THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF WORK
THERE.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE
IMMIGRATION ISSUES.
THERE'S JUST NOT NEARLY ENOUGH.
AND THEN THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS SO
BACKLOGGED.
>> IN THE IMMIGRATION CONTEXT IS
THAT PRIMARILY AROUND THE --
BEING ABLE TO ACHIEVE THE
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT OR
ARE THERE OTHER COMPONENTS BEING
TRIGGERED?
>> IF THERE'S ANY KIND OF
CUSTODY ISSUE THAT ALSO INVOLVES
INTERNATIONAL, AN INTERNATIONAL
RELATIONSHIP, THERE'S A LOT THAT
COMES UP IN THE CONFLUENCE OF
IMMIGRATION STATUS AND FAMILY
LAW WHEN THEY'RE SPLITTING UP,
SO YEAH.
BUT A LOT OF IT IS THE UB STATUS
OR EVEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IS
THERE RELIEF SURVIVORS CAN GET
EVEN IF THEY DON'T HAVE STATUS.
SOME OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE
ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT.
>> YOU HAVE GIVEN A
COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE.
I WANTED TO FLAG HERE THAT IN
THE SPACE OF INVESTING IN
ADDITIONAL LEGAL SERVICES, I'VE
BEEN A REALLY HUGE ADVOCATE AND
PRETTY DOGGED ABOUT MY
PERSPECTIVE ON THIS ONE THAT I
THINK WE NEED TO BE INVESTING
MUCH MORE IN LEGAL
REPRESENTATION OF, YOU KNOW, TO
PROVIDE PEOPLE MEANINGFUL ACCESS
TO APPROPRIATE AND QUALITY LEGAL
REPRESENTATION.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, PART OF -- SO
I'VE DONE THAT IN A COUPLE WAYS.
ONE IS THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF THE LEGAL DEFENSE NETWORK.
THEY'RE PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON
PROVIDING FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO
INDIVIDUALS AT RISK OF
DEPORTATION OR WHO ARE IN
DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE DISCOVERED
IN THAT SPACE AS SORT OF A
TAKEAWAY LESSON WAS HOW MANY
INDIVIDUALS WERE COMING TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM UNDER
THE U VISA PROGRAM THAT NEEDED
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AS WELL.
AND SO ONE OF THE THING THAT IS
WE HAVE DONE TO MODIFY THE
PROGRAM A LITTLE BIT IS TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE'RE A LITTLE BIT
MORE FLEXIBLE AROUND CONNECTING
THE DOTS OF, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU
ARE APPLYING FOR A U VISA, YOU
NEED SOMEBODY TO VOUCH FOR THE
FACT THAT THERE HAS BEEN HARM
CAUSED TO YOU, AND THAT SOMEBODY
TENDS TO BE A LICENSED THERAPIT
OR A COUNSELOR OR SOMEBODY ELSE
PROVIDING YOU THERAPY.
SO SETTING ASIDE THE LEGAL
REQUIREMENTS AND THE CHECK BOXES
YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH, THERE'S
AN ACTUAL BASIC NEED OF MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS
WHO'VE BEEN SEVERELY TRAUMATIZED
AS A RESULT OF VIOLENCE THAT
THEY'VE BEEN SUBJECTED TO.
AND SO JUST WANTED TO FLAG THAT
FOR YOU ALL AS SOMETHING THAT WE
KNOW NEEDS TO BE FURTHER
DEVELOPED IN THAT SPACE.
AND THERE'S ALSO, YOU KNOW, THE
INVESTMENTS WE'VE BEEN MAKING
AROUND PROTECTION ORDERS AND
OTHER ISSUES FOR ORGANIZATIONS
LIKE THE SEXUAL ASSAULT LAW
CENTER TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE GOING
THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND
CONTINUE TO CONNECT THEM WITH
MUCH NEEDED SERVICES.
AND I RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S SORT
OF DIMES IN A BUCKET THAT YOU
KNOW WE NEED A LOT MORE TO GO
INTO THIS SPACE GIVEN THE AMOUNT
OF NEED AND I'M REALLY
INTERESTED IN CONTINUING TO MAKE
SURE WE'RE PRIORITIZING THE
LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND
ADVOCACY FOR SURVIVORS.
>> I ALSO THINK THERE'S SYSTEM
REFORM THAT IS NEED TO APP.
BECAUSE YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO
SPEND TENS AND HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO GET A
DIVORCE.
AND THERE IS -- IT'S A WHOLE
OTHER CONVERSATION, AND IT'S
ACTUALLY MORE AT THE COUNTY
LEVEL AND THE STATE LEVEL I
THINK IS WHERE MOST OF THE
REMEDIES ARE GOING TO COME AND
LESS AT THE CITY LEVEL.
BUT YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALL KINDS
OF PROFESSIONALS BEING PULLED
INTO THESE CASES.
A LOT OF THESE FAMILY LAW CASES
THAT, WHOLE OTHER CONVERSATION.
>> MARK THAT FOR LATER.
>> YEAH, HAPPY TO HAVE A
FOLLOW-UP OFF THE RECORD
CONVERSATION WITH YOU.
THE OTHER THING WE'RE ACTIVELY
DOING WITH THE CITY IS BEGINNING
THE PROCESS OF FORMULATING OUR
STATE AND FEDERAL LOBBYING
AGENDAS.
I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR US TO -- WE ALWAYS
PRIORITIZE THIS CATEGORY IN
GENERAL, BUT IF THERE IS GOING
TO -- IF THERE IS A SPECIFIC
BILL OR LEGISLATIVE FIX THAT
COULD BENEFIT FROM HAVING THE
CITY OF SEATTLE WEIGH IN ON AND
DEDICATE SOME OF OUR LOBBYING
RESOURCES TO, THAT IS CERTAINLY
SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD BE HAPPY
TO DO.
AND THAT WE HAVE HISTORICALLY
DONE IN MANY OF THESE SPACES.
SO HAPPY TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT THAT AS WE GEAR UP
FOR CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR
OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL
REGULATIONS AROUND CRAFTING
SPECIFIC PROPOSALS.
>> WE'LL WORK WITH THE STATE
FOLKS TOO, BECAUSE THEY TAKE THE
LEAD.
>> FANTASTIC.
>> GREAT.
SO I DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH
EVERYTHING ELSE.
I THINK JUDY FRAMED IT REALLY
WELL.
I MEAN THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE
ABSOLUTELY KNOW THAT SURVIVORS
REALLY REALLY BENEFIT FROM, YOU
KNOW, TRAUMA-INFORMED DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE ADVOCACY, AND SUPPORT
SERVICES.
WE ALSO DO HAVE NOW THANKS TO
THE COUNTY'S -- FUNDING FROM THE
COUNTY'S MENTAL HEALTH AND DRUG
DEPENDENCY FUND, WE HAVE MENTAL
HEALTH THERAPISTS BASED AT SOME
PROGRAMS, WHICH IS A NEW THING.
AND THEN OUR POSITION THAT
FOCUSES ON MAKING SURE THAT BOTH
FOLKS IN THE MENTAL, BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH FIELD KNOW HOW TO RESPOND
TO SURVIVORS, IDENTIFY DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND RESPOND TO
SURVIVORS AND THAT FOLKS IN THE
ADVOCACY FIELD, THE SURVIVOR
ADVOCACY FIELD, ARE BETTER
PREPARED TO HANDLE MENTAL HEALTH
CRISES AND NEEDS OF THE
SURVIVORS THEY WORK WITH.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS IF PEOPLE
CAN'T FEED THEIR KIDS, IF THEY
CAN'T AFFORD RENT, IF THEY CAN'T
GET A LIVING WAGE, IT'S REALLY
HARD TO HAVE ANY -- YOU KNOW,
ANY SUCCESS WITH OTHER THINGS.
SO BOTH AND NOT EITHER OR.
AND WE ARE ALSO TRYING TO WORK,
I THINK THIS COMMUNITY LEADS
SORT OF THE NATION IN TERMS OF
SOME OF THE REALLY INNOVATIVE,
CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SERVICES AND
PREVENTION PROGRAMS THAT HAVE
BEEN STARTED HERE.
SOME HAVE BECOME NATIONAL
MODELS.
AND -- COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT,
TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE
PREVENTION, AND MOVE OUR
INTERVENTIONS FURTHER UPSTREAM,
YOU KNOW, INCLUDING TRUE
VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND CHANGING
COMMUNITY NORMS AT THE SAME
TIME.
WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE REAL
NEEDS AND SUFFERING OF FOLKS WHO
ARE CURRENTLY BEING IMPACTED.
AND I THINK FOR INDIVIDUAL
AGENCIES THAT CAN BE A STRUGGLE
IS HOW DO YOU DO SOME OF BOTH
BECAUSE THE NEEDS ARE SO GREAT.
SO MOVING ON, I THINK THAT LIKE
THE STATE COALITION, WE ARE
LOOKING AT BEB BEYOND THE
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.
AND CERTAINLY WE WANT THE
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM TO BE
RESPONSIVE IN THE WAY THAT IT'S
SUPPOSED TO BE.
AND ACCOUNTABLE.
AND WE DON'T THINK CRICKET
RY
CONTRADICTORY TO RESPONDING
APPROPRIATELY TO DOMESTIC AND
SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES THROUGHOUT
THAT SYSTEM.
BUT REALLY THE LO SKAL POLICY
OPTIONS, SEATTLE HAS TAKEN THE
LEAD AS JUDY BOOKMARKED ON A CAN
COUPLE THINGS, LIKE THE SEATTLE
SICK AND SAFE TIME.
HOW MANY S WORDS CAN BE IN THAT
SENTENCE?
>> IT'S A MOUTHFUL.
>> SOME OF THE
ANTIDISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS
AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
HEALTH, HOUSING, AND HUMAN
SERVICES POLICIES, INCLUDING
POLICIES THAT SAY THAT HUMAN
SERVICES CONTRACTS SHOULD RISE
WITH INFLATION.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT
YESTERDAY.
>> THAT WAS A GREAT RESULT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR -- FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP.
>> YOU KNOW, A LOT, I THINK,
CERTAINLY POLICY RELATED TO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS AND LIKE ONE OF THE
THING THAT IS I KIND OF TALK
ABOUT IS DV COMPETENCY.
THERE IS SO MUCH INTERSECTION
BETWEEN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND
HOUSING, HOMELESSNESS ISSUES
BETWEEN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND
MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE
ABUSE ISSUES.
AND YOU KNOW, CHILDREN'S ISSUES
THAT FOLKS IN ALL PROFESSIONALS
HAVE TO HAVE A CERTAIN LEVEL OF
UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO
RECOGNIZE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND
HOW TO RESPOND WITHIN THEIR
ROLES.
THEY'RE NOT ALL EXPECTED TO BE
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATES, BUT
THEIR RESPONSES WITHIN THEIR
ROLES.
AND THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY
SOMETHING YOU GET IN SOCIAL WORK
SCHOOL OR LAW SCHOOL OR YOU GET
IN, YOU KNOW, MENTAL HEALTH
PROGRAMS OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO AND I ALSO THINK THAT THE
CITY COUNCIL HAS A ROLE IN TERMS
OF RAISING AWARENESS AND
VISIBILITY OF THE ISSUE.
BECAUSE UNLIKE THE WAY CHRONIC
HOMELESSNESS SHOWS UP WITH FOLKS
LIVING ON THE STREETS, IT'S NOT
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL
ASSAULT, OTHER FORMS OF
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AREN'T
NECESSARILY AS IN OUR FACES.
SO IT REALLY TAKES BRINGING IT
UP AND RAISING VISIBILITY.
THE OTHER THING THAT LOCALLY
THERE HAS BEEN A ROT OF
LEADERSHIP ON HERE AND AT THE
COUNTY HAS BEEN AROUND FIREARMS
AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND
GETTING GUNS OUT OF THE HANDS OF
PEOPLE THAT ARE ABUSIVE.
AND WE END -- WE'VE BEEN WORKING
WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
AND SP D AROUND THOSE ISSUES
AROUND ISSUES OF SURVIVORS WHO
HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AND
CRIMINALIZED.
BECAUSE MANY SURVIVORS ARE OFTEN
-- ARE ARRESTED ACTUALLY FOR
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR FOR OTHER
CRIMES THAT ARE DIRECTLY RELATED
TO THE VIOLENCE THAT THEY'RE
EXPERIENCING.
AND THEN SO MANY ALSO FIND
THEMSELVES CRIMINALIZED IN THE
ACT OF TRYING TO SURVIVE.
AND SO REALLY TRYING TO -- OUR
ABILITY TO SUPPORT SURVIVORS WHO
HAVE BEEN CRIMINALIZED.
AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH
THE SEATTLE CRIMINAL -- THE
DVPC'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE
COMMITTEE AROUND LIKE MODEL
INTERVENTION PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE
WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSIVE AND AROUND
THE -- THESE ISSUES.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT
COLLABORATION THERE.
AND FINALLY, I'LL JUST SAY IN
TERMS OF FUNDING PRIORITIES, AND
I THINK WE'VE TALKED TO YOU
ABOUT THIS BEFORE, BUT OUR
NUMBER ONE FUNDING PRIORITY FOR
2020 ON TOP OF NO CUTS TO HUMAN
SERVICES AND THE TIN FLAGS
ORDINANCE, THE INFLAGS
ADJUSTMENT IS A HOTLINE.
THIS IS THE CULMINATION OF MORE
THAN TWO YEARS OF PLANNING IN
THE COMMUNITY, FOR MANY MANY
REASONS, INCLUDING THE SPECIFIC
DANGERS THAT SURVIVORS FACE, THE
FACT THAT THERE IS MORE TIS
MORE RELUCTANCE.
AND BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF
CAPACITY, FRANKLY, TO MEET THE
NEEDS OF EVERY SURVIVOR WITH
IN-PERSON, LIVE ADVOCACY, LET
ALONE HOUSING OR OTHER -- OR
LEGAL REPRESENTATION THAT A HELP
LINE IS THE ENTRY POINT FOR MANY
SURVIVORS, AND FOR SOME
SURVIVORS IT MAY BE THE ONLY
KIND OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
SERVICE THAT THEY CAN ACCESS.
AND THERE IS NOT CURRENTLY A
DEDICATED 24-HOUR CENTRAL
MILLION UP LINE OR HOT LINE FOR
SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
IN THIS REGION.
THERE ARE SEVERAL AGENCIES THAT
ARE MANDATED TO STAFF THEIR
PHONES 24 HOURS, BUT THEY'RE NOT
FUNDED.
SO FRANKLY, I MEAN THEY DO THE
BEST THEY CAN GIVEN THE
CIRCUMSTANCES.
BUT IT'S USUALLY PEOPLE, YOU
KNOW, A COMBINATION OF
VOLUNTEERS, FOLKS WHO ARE ON
CALL, AND FOLKS WHO ARE DOING
THIS AS PART OF THEIR OTHER JOB.
MANY CALLS GO UNANSWERED.
AND IT ALSO, LIKE, IT'S -- YOU
-- MANY SURVIVORS GET REALLY
GREAT TRAUMA-INFORMED HELPFUL
RESPONSES AND MANY DON'T.
MANY GET A BUSY SIGNAL OR A
VOICE MAIL.
AND IT'S, RIGHT NOW, FRANKLY,
IT'S A CRAP SHOOT.
SO WE DID A MULTIYEAR,
MULTI-AGENCY PLANNING PROCESS
FOR WHAT IT TWOULD TAKE TO
ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT A DEDICATED
24-HOUR, WELL STAFFED CRISIS OR
HELP LINE HERE IN SEATTLE, KING
COUNTY.
AND WE HAVE ALMOST LIKE THREE
QUARTERS OF THE FUNDING SECURED,
LARGELY THROUGH THE COUNTIES
THAT SENIORS AND HUMAN SERVICES
LEVY.
THEY DEDICATED A HUGE PORTION OF
THAT.
WE HAVE ABOUT $350,000 MORE WE
NEED TO IDENTIFY BY EARLY 2020
IN ORDER FOR IT TO REALLY BE
FEASIBLE TO IMPLEMENT.
AND GIVEN THE NUMBER OF PROGRAMS
AND SURVIVORS THAT ARE IN
SEATTLE, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE
-- I THINK IT'S A REASONABLE
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL.
IT WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE HUMAN
SERVICES STAFF FOR THE MAYOR'S
BUDGET AND YOU KNOW, WE'VE
CERTAINLY COMMUNICATED THIS TO
HER.
AND ALSO WANT TO JUST CALL OUT
THAT IT'S NOT ONLY A RESOURCE
FOR SURVIVORS, IT'S A RESOURCE
FOR FIRST RESPONDERS.
CURRENTLY I THINK LAW
ENFORCEMENT ARE REQUIRED TO GIVE
INFORMATION, AND THERE'S A LIST,
LIKE THAT LIST OF OUR MEMBERS,
THERE'S A LIST OF LIKE 20
AGENCIES.
AND THEN SURVIVORS DON'T KNOW
WHO TO CALL.
THEY END UP HAVING TO CALL
MULTIPLE ONES BECAUSE OF
CAPACITY.
SO THIS WOULD GIVE THEM A
TRAUMA-INFORMED RESPONSE,
SOMEONE WHO COULD SPEND AN HOUR
SAFETY PLANNING WITH THEM IF
THAT'S WHAT'S NEEDED.
WHO IF THEY'RE HAVING AN
EMOTIONAL CRISIS CAN TALK TO
THEM.
AND WE ALSO WANT TO INTEGRATE A
CHAT FUNCTION AND IT WILL
INCREASE ACCESS.
AND WE DID SOME FOCUS GROUPS.
I WON'T READ THIS TO YOU, BUT
THIS JUST SHOWS SOME OF WA THE
DIFFERENCE IS BETWEEN SOMEONE
GETTING A GREAT RESPONSE FROM
THE HELP LINE AND SOMEBODY
GETTING A BUSY SIGNAL OR A, YOU
KNOW, SOMEONE SAYING, YOU KNOW,
WE DON'T HAVE SHELTER NOW, YOU
HAVE TO CALL SOMEONE ELSE AND
GETTING OFF THE PHONE QUICKLY
BECAUSE THERE'S THREE OTHER
LINES RINGING.
SO IT'S AN OUR PLUG.
AND -- I KNOW I TOOK MORE THAN
MY TIME.
>> THAT'S OKAY.
>> BRIEF QUESTION.
ARE THERE OTHER REGIONS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE A HOTLINE
LIKE THIS?
A SERVICE LINE?
>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
STATEWIDE HOTLINES, AND WE
CONSULTED WITH A COUPLE OF THEM.
MANY STATES DON'T HAVE AS MANY
PROGRAMS AS WE DO HERE IN KING
COUNTY.
AND THERE USED TO BE A STATE
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE HERE
IN WASHINGTON STATE.
AND FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS
INCLUDING -- I MEAN IT WAS JUST
I THINK, COMPLICATED TO RUN AND
MOST CALLS REALLY WERE COMING IN
THROUGH THE DAY.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT WAS
DEPRIORITIZED AND DOESN'T EXIST
ANYMORE, ALTHOUGH THE NUMBER
UNFORTUNATELY STILL OUT THERE.
IN A LOT OF WAYS.
GIVEN THE NUMBER OF PROGRAM THAT
IS WE HAVE HERE, THE LEVEL OF
COMPLEXITY, AND FRANKLY I THINK
THE COMPLEXITY OF LIKE THE
HOUSING HOMELESSNESS SYSTEM AND
THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM HERE IT
REALLY FELT LIKE WE NEEDED A
DEDICATED LINE LOCALLY WHERE
PEOPLE WOULD REALLY KNOW AND BE
ABLE TO STAY ON TOP OF, LIKE,
YOU KNOW, HOW THE COORDINATED
ENTRY FOR HOMELESSNESS CHANGED
AGAIN I THINK LAST WEEK.
IT REALLY WOULD BE A WAY TO HELP
FOLKS NAVIGATE THE OTHER
SERVICES THAT THEY NEED IN A
REALLY REALLY INFORMED WAY AND
TELL PEOPLE WHAT THEY CAN AND
CAN'T EXPECT.
I DO THINK THERE ARE SOME OTHER
COUNTY LEVEL HOTLINES OUT THERE.
I KNOW THAT PORTLAND, MULTNOMAH
COUNTY HAD A CRISIS LINE.
I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S STILL
GOING.
DO YOU KNOW OF ANY OTHERS?
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO SOME STATE
HELP LINES.
SO YEAH.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
OKAY.
THANK YOU, MERRILL FOR THAT
PRESENTATION.
I KNOW YOU AND I HAVE HAD
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE HOTLINE
IN THE PAST.
AND I THINK WITH THE KNOWLEDGE
NOW THAT KING COUNTY HAS ALSO
INVESTED IN THE PROGRAM IT MAKES
A LOT OF SENSE FOR US AT THE
CITY OF SEATTLE TO TAKE A HARD
LOOK AT WHAT RESOURCES WE CAN
CONTRIBUTE FOEING THAT WE HAVE
THE NEED AS WELL.
AND EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE
STATEWIDE ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO
PROVIDE SOME LEVEL OF A HOTLINE,
IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE
ARE REFERRING FOLKS TO ARE FROM
THE COMMUNITIES THAT PEOPLE ARE
LIVING WITHIN.
WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, I THINK OF
THAT GEOGRAPHIC COMPONENT IS
IMPORTANT.
I'VE HEARD COMPELLING STORIES
FROM FOLKS ABOUT HOW A HOTLINE
MADE A DIFFERENCE FOR THEM.
AND IN THEIR EXPERIENCE AND
BEING ABLE TO DO THAT SAFETY
PLANNING AND MOVE ON TO HEALING.
I'VE ALSO HEARD STORIES ABOUT
HOW BADLY IT CAN GO.
SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AS
THIS CONCEPT CONTINUES TO BE
IMPLEMENTED TO OBVIOUSLY MAKE
SURE IT'S A MODEL THAT IS GOING
BE TRULY RESPONSIVE TO THE
UNIQUE AND LOCAL NEEDS OF THE
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CALLING.
AND I LIKE THE POINT THAT YOU
MADE AROUND THE FIRST RESPONDERS
IN PARTICULAR.
I THINK OFFICERS OFTENTIMES WANT
TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO
THE RIGHT PLACE.
IT'S FRUSTRATING YOU HAVE TO
HAND OUT EVERY NONPROFIT AGENCY
THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP YOU.
GOOD LUCK.
LIKE THAT IS NOT A MEANINGFUL
RESOURCE.
IT'S A RESOURCE, BUT IT DOES
SHIFT THE BURDEN TO THE DOMESTIC
>> -- IN
0001DECISION TO MOVE FORWARD
WITHOUT
HER IN THAT CASE.
WE HAD SIGNIFICANT SAFETY
CONCERNS.
IT WAS A CASE THAT INVOLVED THE
SURVIVOR BEING HIT IN THE FACE
WITH THE BUTT OF A SHOTGUN.
THERE WERE THREATS TO KILL.
SHE'D RUN TO HER NEIGHBOR'S
HOUSE FOR HELP AND MADE A REALLY
TERRIFIED CALL TO THE POLICE FOR
HELP THAT DAY.
WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH THIS CASE WITHOUT HER
BECAUSE WE, IN OUR UNIT WE
FOLLOW THE SORT OF
EVIDENCE-BASED PROSECUTION
MODEL, MEANING WE WERE ABLE TO
USE OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE CASE
WITHOUT HER TESTIMONY.
PHOTOGRAPHS OF INJURY AND
911 CALL, WE WERE ABLE TO
INTRODUCESOME PORTIONS OF THE
OFFICERS BODY WORN VIDEO JUST SO
SHOW HER DEE MEAN NOR AND
INJURIES ON THAT NIGHT --
>> DID YOU NEED THE VICTIM'S
CONSENT ON THE BODY WORN VIDEO
PIECES OF THE EVIDENCE, OR IS
THAT SOMETHING THE PROSECUTOR
CAN DECIDE?
>> THAT IS A CASE BY CASE BASIS.
AND WE WOULD MAKE THAT
DETERMINATION WHETHER TO USE IT
OR WHETHER WE EVEN COULD USE IT
ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.
>> OKAY.
>> IN THIS CASE, THE SURVIVOR
DID ACTUALLY END UP COMING TO
COURT AND TESTIFYING ON BEHALF
OF HER ABUSER.
THAT WAS A DECISION THAT SHE
MADE AND WE SUPPORTED HER
THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS AND
SUPPORTED HER DECISION TO DO
THAT.
SUMMER AND I HAD A FEELING SHE
WAS GOING TO COME IN AND TESTIFY
ON BEHALF OF OUR ABUSER.
I MET WITH HER AGAIN TO SEEK HER
INPUT ABOUT THE CITY'S
SENTENCING RECOMMENDATION.
AND SOMETHING THAT SHE WANTED
WAS TREATMENT FOR HER PARTNER.
SHE WANTED TO REMAIN WITH HER
PARTNER, BUT SHE DID WANT HIM TO
GET TREATMENT.
SHE HAD NEVER DENIED THAT THE
ABUSE HAD HAPPENED TO US, BUT
SHE JUST WASN'T READY TO LEAVE
HIM OR TO STEP AWAY AT THAT
POINT.
SHE DIDN'T WANT ANY JAIL TIME.
AND SO BASED ON HER INPUT, THAT
IS EXACTLY WHAT WE ASKED FOR AT
SENTENCING.
THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF THE
WORK THAT WE DO AND WE'RE NOT
ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH EVERY
SINGLE CASE THAT WE GET AND NOT
EVERY SINGLE CASE HAS ENOUGH
EVIDENCE THAT WE COULD PROCEED
WITHOUT THE TESTIMONY OF A
SURVIVOR.
SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, IF WE DON'T
HAVE A SURVIVOR THAT'S WILLING
TO TESTIFY IN COURT, THAT MEANS
THAT WE CAN'T ACTUALLY MOVE
FORWARD WITH A CASE AND HOLD
THAT ABUSER ACCOUNTABLE.
AND AT THAT POINT WE JUST DON'T
MOVE FORWARD.
WE NEVER FORCE A SURVIVOR TO
TESTIFY IN COURT OR TO DO
SOMETHING THEY'RE NOT READY TO
DO.
BUT IF WE'RE ABLE TO GO FORWARD
USING THAT EVIDENCE -BASED
PROSECUTION MODEL, THEN WE WILL
DO THAT AND TRY TO GET SOME
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE OFFENDER
AND I WOULD SAY ABOUT ONE-THIRD
OF MY TRIALS HAVE PROCEEDED
FORWARD WITHOUT THE TESTIMONY OF
A SURVIVOR OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
AND THE REASON THAT WE GO
FORWARD ON THESE CASES IS
BECAUSE OF THE MASSIVE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMUNITY SAFETY
CONCERNS.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
EVERYONE IS AWARE OF THAT
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ISN'T THE
GREATEST PREDICTOR OF FUTURE
VIOLENCE.
TO THAT INDIVIDUAL OR WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY.
WE'RE NOT ABLE TO GO FORWARD
WITH EVERY CASE.
ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE FACE
IS A CAPACITY ISSUE, A STAFFING
ISSUE.
WE HAVE FIVE PROSECUTORS IN OUR
UNIT.
WE HAVE ONE DETECTIVE WHO IS
ASSISTING WITH THE MISDEMEANOR
CASE LOAD THAT WE HAVE.
AND IN 2018 WE HAD 1,287 CASES
THAT WERE ACTUALLY FILED.
IN ADDITION TO THOSE CASES,
ADDING IN NONDOMESTIC VIOLENCE
CASES LIKE STALKING,
CYBERSTALKING, HARASSMENT, CHILD
ABUSE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, ANIMAL
CRUELTY.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS EACH
PROSECUTOR HAS A CASE LOAD OF
ABOUT 300 CASES THEY'RE WORKING
ON.
OUR UNIT IS VERY INNOVATIVE, AND
THIS CITY IS VERY INNOVATIVE.
WE'RE ON THE FOREFRONT OF
CHANGING THE WAY THAT WE RESPOND
TO AND HANDLE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
AND OTHER VICTIM INVOLVED CASES.
AND WE'RE CHANGING THE WAY THAT
WE PRACTICE IN RESPONSE TO INPUT
FROM SURVIVORS AND IN AN ATTEMPT
TO HOLD OFFENDERS ACCOUNTABLE
AND INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY.
THE ISSUE IS CAPACITY.
WE NEED MORE PEOPLE.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE
HEARD FROM EVERYONE.
WE NEED MORE PEOPLE ASSISTING
OUR UNIT SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE
TO BETTER SERVE SURVIVORS AND
BETTER SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
I'LL LET SUMMER TALK ABOUT THE
ROLE OF THE ADVOCATES.
>> THANK YOU?
THE VICTIM
ADVOCATES IN OUR OFFICE, WE HAVE
SEVEN ADVOCATES NOW, AND WE
TYPICALLY WILL ATTEMPT TO MAKE
CONTACT WITH ABOUT 3,100
SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
EVERY YEAR.
SO FOR EACH REPORT THAT WE GET
WE HAVE AN ADVOCATE REACHING OUT
TO TRY TO REACH THE PERSON.
AND WE DO THAT BECAUSE WE WANT
TO FIND OUT WHAT DO YOU WANT TO
SEE HAPPEN?
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAFETY
PLAN WITH THEM AND WE WANT TO BE
ABLE TO CONNECT THEM WITH
COMMUNITY-BASED RESOURCES AS
WELL BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE
MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO INTERFACE
WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
DO SO RELUCTANTLY.
AND FOR GOOD REASON.
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS
BEEN HISTORICALLY HARMFUL TO
VICTIMS, TO SURVIVORS, AND WE
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
SO OUR ROLE AS ADVOCATES IS TO
BE THERE AS A SUPPORT TO HELP
EXPLAIN THE SYSTEM TO EXPLAIN
THE RIGHTS OF THE VICTIM AND TO
ASSIST THEM THROUGH THE LIFE OF
THE CASE.
FOR THE CASES THAT ARE FILED IT
CAN TAKE SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR
BEFORE A CASE FINDS A RESOLUTION
IN OUR COURT.
THAT'S A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT
OF WAITING AND A LOT OF
QUESTIONS.
AND SO OUR ADDITIONAL ROLE THERE
IS TO MAKE SURE DURING THAT TIME
THE VICTIM'S INPUT IS STILL
CONSIDERED.
WE WANT SURVIVORS TO FEEL THEY
ARE HEARD IN OUR OFFICE, EVEN IF
ULTIMATELY A PROSECUTOR DECIDES
THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE A
DIFFERENT DECISION, IT'S
IMPORTANT A SURVIVOR HAS THE
ABILITY TO VOICE THEIR OPINION
ON THE CASE.
AND THAT THEY KNOW WHAT THEIR
RIGHTS ARE AS FAR AS HOW TO
CONTINUALLY VOICE THEIR FEELINGS
ABOUT A CASE.
WHEN WE WORK WITH SURVIVORS WE
HEAR CONSISTENTLY WORK WITH SUR
THEY DON'T WANT JAIL TIME.
THE INTERVENTION PROGRAM IS
EXCITING FOR OUR OFFICE BECAUSE
IT GIVES US AN ABILITY TO MEET
THAT NEED.
A POTENTIAL TO INVEST IN CHANGE
IN OFFENDER ACCOUNTABILITY IN A
WAY THAT GIVES US A COORDINATED
COMMUNITY RESPONSE.
WE DON'T WANT TO JUST PUT THEM
IN TREATMENT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY
IS ON THE SAME PAGE AS TO WHAT
HAPPENS IN THE RELATIONSHIP.
WE NEED THE BIG PICTURE
APPROACH TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
IT IS NOT A SNAPSHOT YOU SEE IN
A POLICE REPORT.
IT IS A PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR
THAT HARMS OUR SURVIVORS AND
OUR COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE OF THAT, WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT CAPACITY ISSUES, WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT ADDITIONAL
SECRETION AND ADVOCACY STAFF TO
SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THE DVI
PROGRAM . TO BE THERE WITH
INPUT FROM SURVIVORS ABOUT WHAT
IS GOING ON.
FROM PREVIOUS HISTORY, WHETHER
IT BE PRIOR REPORTS THAT WERE
NEVER FILED, OR IF IT TO BE NEW
INFORMATION THE VICTIM IS
SHARING ABOUT HOW THE OFFENDERS
BEHAVIOR HAS CHANGED OR HAS NOT
CHANGED SINCE THEY STARTED
TREATMENT, WE THINK CONSISTENCY
IS IMPORTANT IN INVESTING IN
THAT PROGRAM.
THAT IS THE ONE OF THE BEST
THINGS WE CAN DO.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, AND
ECHOING THE WONDERFUL WORK OF
EST AND HIGHLIGHTING THE ISSUE
OF CONTROL, WE ARE FALLING
SHORT ON INVESTIGATING AND
PROSECUTING THESE CRIMES.
EVEN IF IT IS NOT A CYBER
STALKING CASE, AND ORDER
VIOLATION, AND WE HAD ABOUT 500
LAST YEAR, COULD BE A TEXT
MESSAGE.
IT COULD BE HARASSMENT ONLINE.
THOSE CASES REQUIRE A GREAT
DEAL OF MANPOWER AND TECHNICAL
PROFICIENCY THAT OUR OFFICE
FRANKLY, DOESN'T HAVE.
WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TO
ASSIST VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE, SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE WE NEED TO LISTEN TO
THEM AND WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
IS, THEY WANT OFFENDER
TREATMENT.
TEY WANT US TO PROSECUTE THESE
CSES.
THEY WANT OUR HELP IN KEEPING
THEM SAFE IN THAT WAY.
WHEN WE DON'T DO ANYTHING, IT
PUTS US ON THE LINE.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE REALLY
FEEL ARE IMPORTANT AT THIS
TIME.
WE ALSO WANT TO INVITE YOU TO
COME TO OUR OFFICE AND SEE WHAT
WE DO AND WHAT OUR PROCESS IS.
WE ARE REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK
WE DO IN THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
UNIT.
LIKE I SAID, I KNOW THE SYSTEM
CAN BE HARMFUL TO VICTIMS.
BUT, WHEN THEY ARE INTERFACING
WITH OUR SYSTEM, WE ARE DOING
THE BEST WE CAN TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE HONORING THEM WITH DIGNITY
AND RESPECT, AND TRYING TO
CREATE OUTCOMES THAT ARE
SEPARATE FROM THE TRADITIONAL
PATTERN PROSECUTION.>> THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK YOU
ARE DOING.
I KNOW IT IS HARD WORK.
I THINK THE PANEL TODAY
EXEMPLIFIES HOW THIS IS TRULY A
FULL-SPECTRUM OF WORK.
THERE IS PREVENTION, RECOVERY
ASPECTS THAT ARE MUCH MORE
SERVICE ORIENTED.
AND THERE ARE THE ADVOCACY
PIECES AROUND MAKING SURE WE
ARE HAVING TRANSFORMATIONAL
CHANGE IN OUR SYSTEMS BY
CHANGING LAW AND POLICY, AND
MAKING INVESTMENTS INTO THOSE
THINGS.
AND THERE ARE THE INTERNAL
PROCESSES.
AS INSTITUTIONS AND PEOPLE WHO
WORK WITHIN GOVERNMENT
INSTITUTIONS, WE HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO NOT FURTHER
PERPETUATE HARM OR CAUSE HARM
OURSELVES IN THE WORK WE ARE
DOING ON THE INSIDE TO HOLD
PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.
PEOPLE WHO ARE CREATING HARM.
THIS LAYS OUT THE FULL-SPECTRUM
OF THE UNIVERSE THAT WE ARE
OPERATING WITHIN AND PLEASED
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE FEW SPACES
WHERE I FEEL THERE IS A LOT OF
ALIGNMENT AMONG INTERNAL AND
EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS IN TERMS
OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT UNIQUE
ROLE WE EACH PLAY IN
ELIMINATING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
AND HARM WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE
WORK YOU DO EVERY DAY.
THE HARD WORK YOU DO EVERY DAY
TO ADVOCATE FOR, REPRESENT, AND
PROTECT VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE IN OUR CITY AND
BEYOND.
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT WORK AND
I AM APPRECIATIVE OF ALL THE
WORK YOU DO.
COUNCILMAN?
ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO
ADD?>> I JUST HAVE A QUICK
WESTON.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WILL BE
PARTICULARLY MINDFUL OF IS THE
NEED FOR THE INVESTMENT, BUT
ALSO GIVEN THIS IS THE LONG
SPIRIT OF ECONOMIC PROSPERITY
WE HAVE HAD SINCE THE
DEPRESSION, DO YOU SEE A
CORRELATION BETWEEN WHEN THINGS
ARE GOING WELL ECONOMICALLY
WITH REGARDS TO DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE, THAT IT GOES DOWN?
AND WHEN WE ARE IN A RECESSION,
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE GOES UP?
IS THERE RESEARCH THAT SUPPORTS
THAT?>> THANK YOU FOR THE
QUESTION, COUNCILMAN.
THERE IS INTERESTING DATA ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENS AROUND DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT AND
CHILD ABUSE DURING TIMES OF
ECONOMIC PROSPERITY VERSUS
TIMES OF ECONOMIC HARDSHIP.
WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT ONCE
SURVIVORS HAVE NO ECONOMIC
MEANS TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT
THEIR CHILDREN AND NO OTHER
OPTIONS BUT TO STAY WITH AN
ABUSIVE PARTNER, THEN WE SEE AN
INCREASE IN VIOLENCE.
THE MYTH AROUND WHO IS CAUSING
VIOLENCE, THE LIFETIME
TELEVISION MONSTER GUY.
OF COURSE THAT IS A SUBSET OF
THE POPULATION, BUT SO OFTEN IT
IS PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THEY HAVE
THE ENTITLEMENT OR THE RIGHT TO
CONTROL THE PEOPLE IN THEIR
LIVES.
THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT
ARE NOT GOING WELL FOR THEM.
OF COURSE, WHEN THERE IS
WIDESPREAD UNEMPLOYMENT, FOR
EXAMPLE THOSE STRESSES DO
INCREASE THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
BEHAVIOR.
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT WHAT
WE ARE SEEING AROUND BOTH
ECONOMIC PROSPERITY, BUT ALSO
THIS HUGE GAP BETWEEN THE HAVES
AND HAVE-NOTS, WERE SO MANY
PEOPLE ARE JUST HANGING ON BY
THEIR FINGERNAILS TO THEIR
APARTMENT.
WORKING TWO OR THREE JOBS.
43 SURVIVORS, THEY HAVE FEWER
AND FEWER CHOICES TO PROTECT
THEM SELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN.
INVESTMENTS THE CITY CAN MAKE
BOTH IN THE PUBLIC POLICY
AGENDA, AS WELL AS AND WHAT ARE
WE DOING TO HELP PEOPLE HAVE
LIVING WAGE JOBS AND EMPLOYMENT
PROTECTIONS?
AND SAFE, AFFORDABLE PLACES TO
LIVE.
THOSE INVESTMENTS ARE GOING TO
MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE
LONGITUDINALLY, THE DATA
INDICATES THAT WHAT HAS REDUCED
THE MYSTIC VIOLENCE OVER TIME
IN THE UNITED STATES ARE THE
RIGHT TO A NO-FAULT DIVORCE,
THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR
WOMEN, AND THE OPPORTUNITIES TO
HAVE HELP.
>> THANK YOU.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I AM
TRYING TO BE MINDFUL OF, GIVEN
THE ROLE I HAVE HAD FOR THE
LAST THREE MONTHS, WE GET THE
ECONOMIC PICTURE.
I AM TRYING TO MAKE SURE THIS
IS A CRITICAL TIME TO MAKE THE
INVESTMENTS GIVEN THE FACT THAT
WE ANTICIPATE A BIT OF A SLOW
DOWN.
HOW DO WE MAKE THOSE
INVESTMENTS IN A STRATEGIC
MANAGER SO WE ARE MOST
IMPACTFUL?
SO MUCH OF THE WORK YOU TALK
ABOUT IS MORE SPECIFICALLY
HOMELESSNESS.
IN THIS FIRST HANDOUT, IT SAYS
THE MYSTIC VIOLENCE IS THE
LEADING CAUSE FOR HOMELESSNESS
IN WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
I THINK SO MUCH OF MY OWN
LIMITED EXPERIENCE WITH REGARDS
TO MY MOTHER, AND HOW MANY
TIMES SHE WAS ON THE RUN WITH
FOUR LITTLE KIDS HOLDING HER
HAND.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK YOU
DO.
IF THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN DO
TO SUPPORT THE WORK YOU DO,
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT.
THANK YOU.>> GREAT, ANYTHING
ELSE FROM ANY OF YOU FOR THE
GOOD OF THE ORDER?
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
WITH US AND THANK YOU
COUNCILMAN PACHECO FOR BEING MY
COHOST TODAY.
I APOLOGIZE TO THE VIEWING
PUBLIC, WE WENT 30 MINUTES
LONGER THAN WE INTENDED TO.
BUT THAT IS HOW MUCH WE THINK
THIS SUBJECT MERITS.
IT MERITS MUCH MORE TIME THAN
ONE AND A HALF HOURS.
WE HAVE IT AS A TOP PRIORITY IN
THE CITY AND AT THE CITY
COUNCIL IN PARTICULAR.
I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR WORK IN
THIS SPACE.
THAT IS OUR LAST AGENDA ITEM.
WE HAVE NO ONE WHO HAS SIGNED
UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO INTENDED TO
SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT
DID NOT?
I AM NOT SEEING ANYONE DASHING
TOWARDS THE MICROPHONE.
I WILL CLOSE OUT PUBLIC
COMMENT.
AGAIN, THIS IS OUR ONE AND ONLY
ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
THERE IS NO OTHER BUSINESS FOR
THE COMMITTEE.
SO, WE ARE ADJOURNED.>> THANK
YOU.