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County seeks added funding for domestic violence shelter to avoid service gap and maintain state certification
Summary
DHHS told the committee that an additional $425,000 in the FY26 budget is needed to procure an operator and avoid losing the county's State‑recognized comprehensive domestic violence service provider status; staff warned failure to fund could reduce services or eliminate the shelter.
The Health & Human Services Committee reviewed a packet recommendation to increase funding for the county's domestic violence shelter by $425,000 after DHHS said the FY25 approved amount did not cover current operating costs. Council packet staff explained that the previous procurement cycle drew no bids at the FY25 budget level and that negotiations with a potential vendor depend on the FY26 appropriation.
Monica Martin, Chief of Behavioral Health and Crisis Services, told the committee the shelter is a 60‑day emergency program serving survivors and children. She said the existing provider declined to rebid at prior budget levels and that the county assessed the true cost to operate the shelter, including higher acuity and complex needs among clients. Martin warned that without increased funding the county risks reducing workforce and services, serving fewer clients, or losing the state certification required for certain grant funding.
Staff told the committee that bringing the abuser intervention program in‑house and securing a vendor to operate the shelter are both part of meeting the State’s comprehensive provider certification requirements. Committee members expressed unanimous support in the session for the recommended increase and urged continued attention to procurement timing and vendor engagement.
Ending: The committee approved the enhancement provisionally as part of the FY26 operating review and asked staff to track procurement outcomes and potential service impacts if vendor negotiations fail.
