Tuesday night's budget workshop came up with more money for county employees and Coast RTA. While that group was pleased one other isn’t.
Employees at “Citizens Against Spouse Abuse” or CASA said that they were turned away when it came to asking for money for its agency, so that it can keep its advocacy program running.
"We had applied for a major grant that we were turned down for just last week which we were really counting on," said the agency’s director Joanne Patterson.
The agency requested at least $20,000 to keep one of its two safe houses running. But Patterson said that since the agency is struggling for money, two employees have already been laid off while hours for others have been cut back.
Patterson said that she went to Tuesday night’s County Council meeting but was barely even given a chance to speak up about requesting money for the agency.
"We deserve to at least have been given the opportunity to ask for those funds and it's really going to be a sad day if our agency has to discontinue its services," said Patterson.
News 13 also spoke with one abuse victim who requested to keep her identity concealed. She said that she with her two young sons finally escaped an eight year abusive relationship and came to one of CASA’s safe homes. She said the facility feels like home adding, now that she’s heard the news about the agency not having enough money to possibly not operate in the future, she’s afraid that she will lose her temporary shelter.
"When you have organizations like this you have people that actually care instead of just saying hey here's a cot, sleep on that, "the government is supposed to take care of society, the people and if you're not funding for them then who are you taking care of, the other government officials?” said the mother of two.
News 13 spoke with Horry County Councilwoman Liz Gilland over the phone about the agency’s concerns and she responded by saying that there were 6 to 8 other agencies that also did not receive money besides CASA.
Gilland added that the county is not responsible for giving money to non-profit agencies and because this year’s budget is tighter than ever, they were obligated to fund emergency personnel first such as fire, rescue and police leaving them unable to provide money to CASA
Patterson added that she will once again request the county to reconsider their decision at their next meeting.
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