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For Immediate Release: June 9, 2023
Media Contact: Mariah Wineski 225-752-1296
Louisiana’s federally designated network of domestic violence programs, the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (LCADV), joined advocates statewide in applauding the Louisiana State Legislature for its investment of $7 million in new state funds for domestic violence shelters. The addition of this funding follows many years of advocacy by the Coalition and its member programs to secure sufficient resources to meet the vast need for domestic violence victim services across the state.
Louisiana’s domestic violence shelters provide emergency shelter, safety planning, legal advocacy, housing assistance, and much more to victims of domestic violence and their children. Despite the tremendous efforts of these shelters, who serve more than 14,000 victims of domestic violence each year, the need has vastly outpaced the available resources. A December 2021 report by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor found that Louisiana did not adequately fund domestic violence services, and that more than 2,600 requests for shelter went unmet each year.
Advocates hoped to change that this session, with a coordinated effort to secure the first state general funding for domestic violence shelter services in over a decade, and the first appropriation ever of this magnitude. “We are thrilled that the Legislature has recognized this longstanding unmet need and has appropriated funds to address it,” said Mariah Wineski, LCADV executive director. “We applaud the tremendous effort of advocates and survivors to secure this crucial funding. We look forward to the expansion of services, shelter capacity, and safety resources that will be available as a result.”
Louisiana has long led the nation in the rate of women murdered by men, according to the Violence Policy Center’s annual report, When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of Homicide Data. For years, advocates have pointed to an insufficient safety net for victims as a contributing factor for these persistently high homicide rates. Advocates are hopeful that the addition of these funds will bolster a shelter network that has been badly under-resourced for decades.
Advocates stated in budget hearings this session that they intended to use the extra funding to open new shelters, stabilize staffing at existing shelters, and expand prevention and outreach services. “This wise investment will save hundreds of lives and provide a pathway to safety, independence, and stability for people escaping abuse,” Wineski said. “We commend the legislature for adding these funds, and we look forward to moving one step closer to a Louisiana free from violence.”
The Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (LCADV) is the statewide network of programs, organizations, and individuals who share the goal of ending domestic violence in Louisiana. LCADV empowers its members and communities through advocacy, education, resource development, and technical assistance. For more information, visit www.lcadv.org.
Notice is hereby given of the availability of federal funds through the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) U.S. Department of Justice for the FY 2022 STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program
The total amount available is $251,509
If interested in this competitive opportunity, complete a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOI) to submit your proposal. This form is located on the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement (LCLE) website at: https://lcle.la.gov/grants/grant-funding-announcements/
For questions and additional information contact:
Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence
P.O. Box 77308
Baton Rouge, LA 70879
The deadline for submitting a Notice of Intent (NOI) is: June 30, 2023.
Proposals may be considered for approval at the 9/27/2023 Victim Services Advisory Board (LCLE) meeting.
Coalition Issues Statement on Domestic Violence Shelter Funding
For Immediate Release: May 8, 2023 Media Contact: Mariah Wineski 225-752-1296
As Louisiana’s federally designated network of domestic violence programs, the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (LCADV) joins advocates statewide in urging the Louisiana Legislature to allocate funding for domestic violence shelter services in the state budget.
Louisiana’s domestic violence shelters provide emergency shelter, safety planning, legal advocacy, housing assistance, and much more to victims of domestic violence and their children. These shelters answer over 5,000 crisis calls and provide lifesaving services to more than 14,000 victims of domestic violence each year. Despite these tremendous efforts, the need vastly outpaces the available resources. Louisiana has only 17 domestic violence shelters to serve all 64 parishes. Shelter beds are consistently full, leaving dangerous gaps in safety resources for victims seeking help. Despite this, Louisiana allocates $0 in state general funds to domestic violence shelters.
Advocates are not alone in recognizing that something needs to change. A December 2021 report by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor found that Louisiana does not adequately fund domestic violence services, and recommended that the Legislature allocate funding for this purpose. This report found that more than 2,600 requests for shelter go unmet each year due to lack of capacity. That is more than 7 times per day that a victim needed a shelter bed and could not get one because the beds were full.
That our state would allow these unmet requests to continue, despite having ample funds available to bolster shelter services, is inconsistent with our state’s values. A failure to fund basic services for victims of domestic violence in a state with a domestic homicide rate nearly twice the national average is not only bad policy; it is an abject moral failure and an abdication of our duty to protect the most vulnerable.
Domestic violence is an issue that has plagued our state for decades. It has torn apart families, orphaned thousands of Louisiana children, and left victims to rely on a safety net that is dangerously under-resourced. This legislative session, Louisiana has a tremendous opportunity to change our state’s direction, save hundreds of lives, and promote healing and safety for victims of violence.
We call on the Louisiana Legislature to amend the state budget to add an appropriation of $15 million to the Family Violence Prevention Program in the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). We must take this rare opportunity to build an adequate safety infrastructure for victims in immediate danger. This wise investment will save hundreds of lives and provide a pathway to safety, independence, and stability for people escaping abuse.
The Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (LCADV) is the statewide network of programs, organizations, and individuals who share the goal of ending domestic violence in Louisiana. LCADV empowers its members and communities through advocacy, education, resource development, and technical assistance. For more information, visit www.lcadv.org.
Advocates from across Louisiana will gather at the State Capitol at 9:00a.m. on Wednesday, May 3rd, to encourage legislators to support funding for domestic violence shelters in the state budget, as well as laws that strengthen protections for domestic violence victims.
This Day at the Capitol, hosted by the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (LCADV), will feature a display table in the Rotunda of the Louisiana State Capitol building from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and a gathering on the Capitol Steps at 9:00 a.m. Advocates and supporters will be speaking with legislators throughout the day to discuss domestic violence in Louisiana and how funding and legislation can affect shelters and survivors.
The Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (LCADV) has been involved in efforts to request an appropriation of state funds to the Family Violence Program within the Department of Children and Family Services, which funds domestic violence shelters statewide. In 2021, the Louisiana Legislative Auditor released a report, “Challenges in Louisiana’s Efforts to Address Domestic Violence,” recommending that the state appropriate more consistent funding for domestic violence victim services. Currently, the state does not appropriate any state general fund dollars to this purpose. Advocates say this lack of funding contributes to high domestic homicide rates.
“Domestic violence is an issue that affects far too many Louisiana citizens. We have an opportunity to change our state’s trajectory and save hundreds of lives by investing in a stable safety net for victims,” said Mariah Wineski, LCADV Executive Director. “Domestic violence shelters have been drastically underfunded in Louisiana for years, and victims end up paying the price.”
The Legislative Auditor’s report highlighted gaps in services for victims statewide due to lack of funding, including an average of 2,659 unmet requests for shelter beds per year during fiscal years 2015-2020. “There is no way we can turn away 2,600 requests for shelter and say nothing needs to change,” Wineski said. “It is past time for Louisiana to provide adequate funding for victim services, and we urge the legislature to make this important investment.”
As Louisiana’s federally designated domestic violence coalition, the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (LCADV) strongly condemns the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling in United States v. Rahimi, which strikes down a federal law prohibiting those subject to a domestic violence protective order from possessing firearms. In its ruling, the Court found that disarming domestic abuse perpetrators, who have been found by a court to pose a credible threat to the safety of their victims, does not “fit within our Nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation.” This reliance on the historical acceptance of domestic violence recklessly places victims in extreme danger.
While its implications are broad, this decision addresses the constitutionality of only one specific federal statute, 18 USC 922(g)(8). Those with certain domestic violence-related convictions, and those subject to a domestic abuse protection order remain prohibited from possessing firearms under Louisiana state law, which this ruling does not strike down. Further, this ruling does not affect areas outside the jurisdiction of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals (Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi).
As we work to analyze the exact impact this ruling will have on victims in Louisiana, we remember the many victims of domestic violence in our state who have been killed by their abuser with a firearm. In 2020, 74% of female victims of intimate partner homicide in Louisiana were killed with firearms. We know that domestic violence and firearms are a deadly combination, and we call on courts and law enforcement across Louisiana to enforce and strengthen Louisiana’s state-level domestic violence firearm prohibitions in light of this ruling.
LCADV remains dedicated to bringing about change in our institutions, laws, politics, attitudes, and beliefs which will allow individuals to live free of violence. Local domestic violence programs across Louisiana remain available to help domestic violence victims find safety and legal protections from abuse. Survivors in need of assistance can contact Louisiana’s statewide domestic violence hotline at 1-888-411-1333, or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, for free, confidential support.
2022 marks 40 years since the incorporation of the state’s network of domestic violence advocacy organizations, Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (LCADV). The anniversary comes at a time when domestic violence is surging across the state, underscoring the importance of the Coalition and its member programs. LCADV is an advocacy organization whose membership consists of organizations, programs, and individuals working to end domestic violence in Louisiana. Its core membership consists of 16 community-based organizations that provide a wide array of services to survivors of domestic violence. The Coalition is also the leading voice for domestic violence advocacy across the state, providing statewide education campaigns, legislative advocacy, and targeted training for professionals.
LCADV will commemorate the milestone with a year-long campaign throughout 2022. Its commemorative events will feature a $40 for 40 giving campaign, several regional pop-up luncheons for domestic violence advocates, an ongoing call for story submissions, and a celebratory banquet in November. “We have a rich history, full of memories and experiences that have shaped the movement to end domestic violence in Louisiana,” said Mariah Wineski, executive director of LCADV. “We celebrate our 40th year in a position of strength and unity. What a wonderful opportunity to reflect on our movement’s history and chart a course for its future.”
Just last month, the Louisiana Legislative Auditor released a report addressing current challenges in Louisiana’s response to domestic violence, many of which the Coalition is actively working to address. The report found insufficient funding for domestic violence services, sporadic enforcement of existing laws to protect victims, and a lack of oversight for services provided to abuse perpetrators, among other deficiencies. “We have so much work to do in order to create a safer environment for Louisiana families,” Wineski said. “We move into the future ready to address these challenges with creativity and commitment.” More information on LCADV’s 40th anniversary, including an interactive timeline of accomplishments and ways to support their work, can be found athttps://lcadv.org/lcadv-celebrates-40-years-of-impact/
Notice is hereby given of the availability of federal funds through the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) U.S. Department of Justice FY 2021 STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program.
If interested in this competitive opportunity, complete a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOI) to submit your proposal. This form is located on the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement (LCLE) website at: http://www.lcle.la.gov/programs/funding.asp
Louisiana’s rate of women murdered by men has continued its slight downward trend but remains significantly higher than the national average, according to a recent national report. The Washington, D.C. based Violence Policy Center released its annual report on female murder victims, When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of Homicide Data, this week. The report reviews female victims killed by male offenders in single victim/single offender incidents and ranks all states from highest rates to lowest. The 2021 report, which analyzes homicides committed in 2019, ranks Louisiana 5th in the nation. The report also reveals that Louisiana’s rate of women murdered by men remains 85% higher than the national average, at 2.18 homicides per 100,000 females.
Louisiana has led the nation in female homicide rates for some time, with the rate increasing steadily from 2011-2017, then beginning to decrease with 2018 and 2019 data. Mariah Wineski, executive director of the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, is cautiously optimistic to see two consecutive years of decreasing rates. “After six straight years of increasing female homicide rates, we are certainly encouraged by any decline. However, a rate 85% higher than the national average remains incredibly concerning.”
This is the 24th year that the Violence Policy Center has published When Men Murder Women. Because the report analyzes 2019 data, it does not address potential impacts of COVID-19 and multiple natural disasters on Louisiana’s female homicide rate. The report found that 66% percent of the victims in Louisiana were killed with firearms, higher than the national rate of 58%. The report does not count multiple death incidents or incidents where the perpetrator and victim are of the same sex.
The release of the Violence Policy Center report coincides with Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which takes place each year in October. This year, advocates are holding onto hope that they are beginning to see the results of years of policy changes and efforts to prevent domestic homicides. “We are hopeful that the many changes we’ve made statewide to improve victim services and increase accountability for abusers are beginning to make an impact,” Wineski said. Though advocates are encouraged by this reduction, the statistics remain grim for Louisiana women. “Having the fifth highest rate of women murdered indicates a clear need for more focus on this issue. Preventing these deaths should be a top priority for policymakers. If we hope to see a continued downward trend in homicide rates, our state must expand its investment in ending domestic violence.”
LCADV is excited to share these ads from our statewide campaign, advertising the Louisiana Domestic Violence Hotline. These ads feature dedicated advocates from our member domestic violence programs. These commercials were aired on Cox Communications and A4 Media, major cable networks such as BET, VH1, LMN, Hallmark, Bravo, OWN, Comedy, Oxygen, E!, TLC, and ID! We would like to thank our star advocates and Cox Communications for making this possible!
Baton Rouge, LA — The Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (LCADV) announced today that it has received funding to promote housing security among domestic violence survivors. The million dollar grant is a broad expansion of a pilot program launched earlier this year. The grant expands LCADV’s Domestic Violence Flexible Housing Assistance Program to every region of the state, hoping to bring statewide impact to an issue all too common among domestic violence victims: homelessness.
Domestic violence and homelessness are closely related. Domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness for women and children, and the need for safe and affordable housing is one of the most commonly reported concerns for survivors of domestic abuse. A recent study of homeless women with children found that 80% had previously experienced domestic violence. The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this problem, with many domestic violence victims having secured safe housing away from their abusers, only to lose their jobs and face eviction as a result of the pandemic.
In its 5-month pilot project earlier this year, the Coalition partnered with 11 domestic violence organizations across the state to provide direct, low-barrier, and flexible housing assistance to domestic violence survivors. The pilot saw over 600 victims secure stable housing, a key step to long-term security. The funds secured this month expand the program into every parish of the state, a move the Coalition hopes will provide safe housing for even more victims in the coming year.
According to advocates, this program’s effectiveness is a result of its unique, flexible approach to housing stability. While many existing housing assistance programs have stringent requirements, income limits, and long lists of unallowable costs, this model prioritizes meeting survivor-defined needs on flexible terms. “Often, the true barrier to a victim’s stable housing is not the rent itself. Sometimes, it’s a functioning vehicle to get to work, childcare while they interview for jobs, or a utility deposit to get the lights turned on,” said Mariah Wineski, executive director of LCADV. “A holistic approach to housing removes whatever the barrier may be, and that is the approach we take with this program.”
The grant was provided by the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement through the Justice Reinvestment Initiative, and marks the largest investment of new state funding into domestic violence services in over a decade. Wineski applauded the Commission’s decision, “With this grant, the state of Louisiana has chosen to invest in survivors, and the returns will come quickly. When we prioritize meeting the basic needs of our most vulnerable citizens, our entire state reaps the benefits.”
Louisiana currently ranks 5th in the nation for the rate of women murdered by men, according to an annual report by the Violence Policy Center. Advocates are hopeful that this funding will contribute to a reduction in those homicides. “Domestic violence victims in Louisiana face extraordinary barriers to safety,” Wineski said. “We are thrilled to launch a program that removes some of those barriers.”
Safety alert: Your computer use may be monitored and is almost impossible to completely clean. If you are afraid of someone detecting your internet or computer usage please use a safer computer.
