YWCA funds could be cut in GR budget crunch

GRAND RAPIDS (Newschannel 3) - Grand Rapids city officials are making some tough decisions as it struggles to balance the books.

The question is, where can the city make cuts to balance it's $356 million budget

One item on the chopping block is funding for the YWCA, an agency for women and children in the Grand Rapids area.

The YWCA bills itself as a place of renewal, hope and safety for women fleeing from violence, and says that's what it's organization has stood for, for over a 100 years.

During Tuesday night's city commission meeting, some survivors who've relied on the YWCA reminded commissioners of recent history, their history with domestic violence, and why the YWCA should continue to be funded.

"I've had to call the domestic violence crisis line outside of this county to find shelter," said one woman. "I think it needs to be expanded, not cut."

Carla Blinkhorn, President of the Grand Rapids YWCA, says hers is one of only a few women's shelters in Grand Rapids, and that if the city cuts funds, it's cutting 8.5 percent of budget for services, like their domestic violence shelter and crisis hotline. And that, she says, would have grave consequences.

"We've had seven deaths in the last year, directly related to domestic violence in our community," said Blinkinhorn. "We work (with other) service providers that domestic violence survivors require. But city commissioners are in a bind, they're trying to balance a budget in hard economic times and aren't thrilled about cutting the YWCA budget."

There is still hope is that the YWCA will maintain its funding for services the group sees as matters of life and death, for women in need.

"I just want you to reconsider," said one domestic violence survivor. "Please, it's very important to the women of the crisis center."

The city commission could vote on the proposals for the budget as early as June 3.