Dear Friends and Supporters,

“You saved my life”.  “If I hadn’t found Haven Hills I would probably be dead or in jail”.  These are two very common comments women in our Shelter tell us about the impact Haven Hills had on their lives.  Right now our life-saving services are in jeopardy and we need your help because the Governor is proposing to eliminate funding to domestic violence programs.

More than 3 women a day are killed by their batterers in this country, and most are killed within two weeks after they leave the relationship.  Haven Hills has been saving lives of victims of domestic violence in this community for over 30 years through our 24/7 hotline; 30-day crisis shelter; transitional housing and employment program; outreach counseling program and Teen program.  Women enter our programs as victims of abuse relying on our life saving services and emerge as self reliant survivors beginning a life free of domestic abuse, becoming valuable contributors to our community.  Thousands of women and children have been helped by the programs and services we offer.

We are one of only two shelter-based domestic violence programs in the San Fernando Valley, an area with almost 700,000 women over age 18.  In total, there are only 54 crisis shelter beds and accommodations for 27 families in the transitional shelter programs for the entire Valley.  Because 1 in 4 women report that they have been in an abusive relationship sometime in their life, this means that potentially 167,000 women will need our services.  Just in our community.

The Governor is proposing elimination of governmental funding to domestic violence programs in the state.  If he succeeds Haven Hills will immediately lose over $350,000 of its $1.5 million budget.  This means program services will be discontinued or severely curtailed and the women and children who are the most vulnerable in our community will be in greater danger.  Domestic violence is a public safety and health care issue in our society and the root cause of many other societal ills.  The development of our services came out of the need to provide safety, support, advocacy and awareness to break the cycle of abuse.  Law enforcement agencies and healthcare professionals rely on us to provide these services to help victims to break the cycle of violence and decrease recidivism. Without our services the community will experience an increase in public safety and health care costs exceeding the dollars being lost.

In addition to the prospect of losing government funding, the current economic climate has significantly impacted our donations from individuals and foundations.  We need your financial support to maintain the services that are vital to saving lives of women and children in your community.  Please visit our website at www.havenhills.org to make a donation now.  Your support will make a difference.

Please contact me directly to learn more about Haven Hills’ services and/or the impact of the economic crisis to the victims of domestic abuse.  I can be reached at 818-887-7481 x13 or by e-mail at sberdine@havenhills.org.

Thank you,

Sara J. Berdine
Executive Director