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Supervisors restore gender‑based violence funding after survivors and providers urge preservation
Summary
After extensive public comment from domestic‑violence and sexual‑assault service providers and survivors, the board approved a staff recommendation to add one‑time resources and later voted to restore an additional $1.95 million to bring services back to prior funding levels.
Survivors, advocates and county providers urged the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors on Monday to preserve and restore funding for gender‑based violence prevention and direct‑service programs, and the board moved to do so in two steps.
Community providers told the board the county's network supplies emergency shelter, transitional housing, legal advocacy and accompaniment for forensic exams, and that losing funds would cut access to life‑saving services. "Emergency shelter not only offers protection, but also creates a stable environment where survivors can begin to heal," said Adriana Caldera, CEO of YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley (speaking during the public comment period). Several speakers said the services are essential in a county where community partners serve hundreds of survivors each year.
The board first approved administration's recommended augmentation of $550,000 for gender‑based violence prevention contracts (item 14). Later in the meeting, when supervisors were considering revised budget recommendations and temporary savings steps under item 9, Supervisor Ellenberg moved — and the board approved, 4–1 — an additional $1.95 million to restore gender‑based violence contracts to the prior funding level. That follow‑on motion brings the total county commitment back toward the previous year's approximate funding levels for the contracted network.
County staff said the $550,000 recommendation was included in the revised packet and that the added $1.95 million was restored by board action and will be implemented via the budget adjustments in item 9. Administration noted departments will need to identify offsetting reductions elsewhere in the general fund and that a portion of those offsets is being handled through the board's object‑2 negative appropriation approach.
Advocates warned the board that cuts would reduce accompaniment for non‑fatal strangulation exams, emergency housing capacity and rapid financial assistance for survivors. "Without this assistance, survivors may be forced to remain in dangerous situations or face homelessness, exploitation, and revictimization," said Adriana Caldera. Community Solutions, Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence, YWCA and other providers explained they operate coordinated response protocols and that some services — particularly on‑call advocacy for late‑night forensic exams — require specialized staffing.
Board members expressed concern about long‑term sustainability of one‑time funding. Vice President Arenas and others said they want the county to seek longer‑term solutions but acknowledged current fiscal limits. The board directed administration to implement the approved funding restorations and to return as part of the fall package of departmental proposals with a clear accounting of offsets and the programmatic impacts of object‑2 reductions.
Actions recorded: • Approve administration recommendation to augment gender‑based violence contracts by $550,000 (item 14): approved 5–0. • Restore an additional $1.95 million through revised budget actions (motion during item 9): approved 4–1.
The board's restorations came after a sustained public comment period during which survivors and providers described direct service impacts and requested that the county preserve both emergency shelter capacity and crisis advocacy.
