San Antonio city officials said the newly adopted fiscal year 2023-24 budget contains $34 million to prevent and intervene in domestic violence situations.
The background
According to a news release, local officials said the new funding will help various city departments and agencies to better prevent and respond to domestic violence through strategies spelled out by San Antonio’s Collaborative Commission on Domestic Violence.
The city budget includes $31.9 million in city funds and $1.9 million in federal and state funds and grants to support the following measures:
- Implementing a communication strategy to increase awareness of domestic violence and available resources
- Providing treatment, support and services focused on the person’s needs
- Expanding the capacity to provide legal services to those affected by domestic violence
- Implementing the Danger Assessment for Law Enforcement, an assessment tool that creates a score to quickly and accurately identify people at risk for domestic violence, across the San Antonio Police Department
A closer look
The following city offices address domestic violence interventions, services and support with the following funds:
- SAPD, $23.7 million: supports personnel costs for Special Victims Unit and Crisis Response Team as well as other law enforcement personnel and victim services
- Metropolitan Health District, $7.9 million: supports domestic violence crisis advocacy and case management services, CCDV efforts, and needs from domestic violence victims
- Department of Human Services, $1.3 million: provides child care services along with external funding to community partners to provide more support services to victims
- City Attorney’s Office, $516,258: provides legal and support services for domestic violence victims
- Municipal Court, $306,185: provides judicial and court services for domestic violence victims
Many other city departments, such as the San Antonio Fire Department, Neighborhood and Housing Services, and Animal Care Services, provide support services through their existing programs, the release states.
Anyone experiencing domestic violence is urged by the city to call 211 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.
What they’re saying
Deputy City Manager María Villagómez said the city’s CCDV laid out strategies that can help to improve how the local government addresses domestic violence.
“These resources will help us connect more people to services, educate the community about what they can do to prevent and stop domestic violence and build a person-centered approach to treatment and support,” she said in a statement.
