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Supervisors approve $118,107 reallocation to community legal and training services for domestic‑violence survivors
Summary
The committee approved a reallocation of $118,107 to five community providers and $18,000 for training stipends; presenters highlighted increases in reported domestic violence and the chilling effect of Secure Communities on immigrant victims, and providers said funds are critical amid federal cuts.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Budget & Finance Subcommittee on March 6 approved an ordinance to reallocate $118,107 to the Department on the Status of Women for distribution to community‑based legal service providers and for training stipends to support survivors of domestic violence.
Supervisor Jane Cohen introduced the item and asked Dr. Emily Morase of the Department on the Status of Women to describe the proposal. Dr. Morase said the funds would be distributed to five community providers — Cooperative Restraining Order Clinic; Volunteer Legal Services Program; Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach; Bay Area Legal Aid; and a fifth provider specified in the department packet — and $18,000 would fund stipends to community trainers who will deliver cross‑training for 3‑1‑1 and other city personnel. Dr. Morase said reported domestic violence cases, shelter demand and hotline calls have increased and stressed that Secure Communities immigration enforcement has created a chilling effect for immigrant victims, increasing the need for culturally competent legal assistance.
Supervisors asked about annualization of the funds and the timeline for a needs assessment; the mayor's budget office said it expects the increased expenditures to continue into the next budget year and that the department plans to hire the needs‑assessment staff in April with a target completion in July. Advocates from Mujeres Unidas, CROC, Volunteer Legal Services, Bay Area Legal Aid, API Legal Outreach and others testified that the funding would support bilingual attorneys, counseling, and evaluations that help low‑income survivors in family‑law matters.
Supervisor Cohen moved approval and Supervisor John Avalos seconded. The committee approved the ordinance without opposition and asked the department and mayor's office to continue work on annualization and the needs assessment so ongoing funding needs can be addressed in the next budget cycle.
What happens next: The department will begin recruitment for the needs‑assessment position, allocate the $118,107 among the specified providers and report progress and annualization plans as part of the upcoming budget process.
