Press Release: June 10, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Mac Clemmens
Phone: 916-669-9386
E-mail: pr-at-digitaldeployment

Digital Deployment announced that it will support its clients who are facing budget cuts, including Sacramento-based WEAVE, Inc., a domestic violence and sexual assault prevention agency, and Firefighters for Sacramento City.

Less than a year after launching their new website with Digital Deployment, WEAVE, Inc., is faced with catastrophic budget cuts.

According to WEAVE:

• WEAVE is actively opposing the $538,000 in fiscal year 2009 budget cuts recommended by Sacramento County. We have served survivors of domestic violence in our community for 30 years. The proposed funding cut is an enormous step backward for victims, their families and our region.
• WEAVE must serve as that voice in our community. There is no other resource. While other nonprofit organizations provide elements of services to victims-no other organization provides the comprehensive continuum of services that WEAVE does.
• County funding recommendations will create a life or death situation for victims. By eliminating critical services, victims are placed at increased risk for continued abuse, physical assault and possibly murder. Escalating violence also creates an additional burden on law enforcement, medical providers and the legal system.
• The cuts will decrease the agency's 24-hour Crisis Line capacity by 30 to 50 percent. The proposed funding cuts will nearly eliminate counseling services for self-referred victims. One of every three calls to the Crisis Line will hear a busy signal. Self-referred domestic violence victims seeking counseling (approximately 85 percent of the victims served) will wait two to six months for an appointment and will receive fewer counseling sessions.
• The 24-hour Crisis Line functions as a first point of contact for every victim who contacts WEAVE. The Crisis Line assists victims with risk assessment and safety planning. We know women are at the greatest risk to be injured or killed when leaving a violent relationship. Comprehensive risk assessment and safety planning is essential when assisting victims in safely leaving a violent relationship.
• Short-term cuts create long-term costs. Reductions will have dramatic effects on the most cost-efficient services available for the greatest number of victims. WEAVE will be forced to shift away from more affordable interventions and offer only the more costly shelter and legal advocacy options. The Safehouse is already overburdened with requests for shelter. While WEAVE is preparing to build a new Safehouse with double the capacity, the facility will not open before Spring 2009.

Digital Deployment has committed emergency resources to assist its clients, including an emergency donation of 100 hours to affected agencies.

"The idea of a busy signal on the crisis line sends chills down my spine," said Mac Clemmens, CEO of Digital Deployment. "We will stand with our clients and be sure their cases are heard. We deeply believe in the value of the work, and we're prepared to devote serious resources to be sure others come to understand their value as well."

Firefighters for Sacramento faces similar cuts, which would force Sacramento Fire stations to close temporarily -- or "brown out" -- potentially delaying emergency reponse times by one minute or more. In addition to preparing a new website to support their cause, Clemmens and other members of his team will join the Firefighters as they make their final case to the City Council on Thursday, June 12, at 6pm.

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For more information, please visit www.weaveinc.org. After its anticipated launch date of June 12, please visit www.sacramentofirefighters.org for more information about Firefighters for Sacramento City.