Dear Editor,
HOPE of Ogle County and its Board of Directors would like to thank all who reached out to their local legislators and state leaders to ask that state contracted Domestic Violence Funding be released so that victims and their children are provided safety and support in Illinois.
There is a few more steps to go to receive funding for this fiscal year which ends June 30, 2017.
Thursday, the House Appropriations Human Services Committee passed HB 3259 to the House floor and provided validation to victims of domestic violence and the agencies who serve them. HB 3259 provides for full FY17 funding for domestic violence agencies who have signed contracts with the State for FY17 yet were inadvertently omitted from the June 2016 stop gap bill.

As such, domestic violence agencies have not received any of their contractually promised FY17 State funds. By taking a step to support FY17 funding for domestic violence shelters and services agencies, this House committee has given hope to all statewide domestic violence agencies and particularly those who have closed or are facing closure in the near future.  
HB 3259 contains a supermajority of 77 co-sponsors and broad, bi-partisan support that includes three legislative leaders. The bill now moves to the House floor and could be sent over to the Senate during the upcoming holiday weekend while the legislature is in Springfield.
Advocates for HB 3259 will continue to push for its passage through the House and Senate prior to the 5/31 regular Session deadline and are renewing their call for bi-partisan cooperation to ensure the programs that serve these crime victims receive the necessary State funding to remain open.
For more information on how you can help please contact the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (1-800-677-2830) or HOPE of Ogle County (815-562-4323).
Ruth Carter
Director, HOPE of Ogle County