With local domestic violence shelter closing, Marion officials welcome outside help

The chairman of the Marion County Commission has written a letter to a Pinellas County social service agency and expressed support of the agency expanding to provide services for domestic violence victims in Marion.

The local domestic violence shelter is expected to shut its doors come Aug. 1 due to lack of funding and other issues.

Chairman Craig Curry's letter is addressed to the board of directors for Community Actions Stops Abuse (CASA) of Pinellas County. "We would like to support Community Action Stops Abuse (CASA) of Pinellas' consideration to expand Domestic Violence certification into Marion County," he wrote.

Curry said the county "is committed to partnering with the Department of Children and Families in efforts to identify community partners to provide Domestic Violence support for families."

Why the current operation is closing

Judy Wilson, who operates the shelter, confirmed the shelter's closing in an interview with a Star-Banner reporter. Wilson said the remaining domestic violence victims staying at the facility are being relocated. Staff members at the shelter also will be forced to leave, Wilson said.

Wilson said some contend the shelter is "unsafe and unhealthy," but she denies this.

"They've accused us of having 13 people in one bedroom and (that) we have roaches and rats," she said. Wilson said the shelter has 80 beds and two 24-hour hotlines to answer calls for service.

Wilson, who said she has been affiliated with the shelter since its start more than 40 years, said the rumors have been ongoing for the past two years. She said it has caused donors — including the United Way of Marion County and private contributors — to slash their funding.

In the past, Wilson said, she counted on the United Way of Marion County to provide approximately $100,000. That sum includes cash and food supplies. For private sources, Wilson said, another $200,000 was coming in. Other assistance came from residents who donates essential items such as diapers.

To get by, Wilson said, the shelter has been receiving supplies from grocery stores.

Funding cut

In his letter, Curry encourages CASA "to coordinate with Marion County Community Services and the Ocala/Marion Joint Office on Homelessness on funding opportunities as they become available." He said "the county will continue to assist with leveraging other community resources as they become available to ensure a successful transition."

Speaking with a Star-Banner reporter, Robert Haight, president and CEO of United Way of Marion County, said his agency suspended its contract with Creative Services (operator of the shelter) in late October 2022 and terminated the contract in February.

Haight said the moves were made due to unsuitable conditions discovered during a site visit in October. Other factors were at play, as well, including concerns expressed by United Way's volunteer oversight committees and victim advocates and also legal inquires by law enforcement officials.

He said they had two contracts: $33,500 for shelter operations and $15,000 for the domestic violence crisis line.

Haight said: "When we suspended funding, we continued to provide domestic services through the Children's Alliance Family Prevention program."

He said domestic violence programs are accredited by the state's Office of Domestic Violence. To qualify for funding, Haight said, a local agency must demonstrate it has provided domestic violence services for 18 months.

Officials from the Department of Children and Families said in a statement that "in working with local entities such as the Sheriff’s office and State Attorney, the Department is working to ensure that there are no gaps in services. Creative Services has lost the trust of their community and despite multiple funding streams, has failed to carry out their duties."

Domestic violence numbers

A letter from United Way of Marion County board members states that they recognize "the increasing demand for domestic violence services in Marion County. Marion County has a domestic violence rate of 1,015.9 offenses per 100,000 population and a rape rate 2.6 times the state average."

"United Way of Marion County takes our stewardship responsibilities seriously, sometimes requiring decisions like this one. We are confident that the quality of services will improve as victims' advocates, law enforcement, and the community collaborate with a common purpose to expand services in Marion County."

Shelter needs help: Ocala Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Center is low on funds to help survivors, children

According to the Marion County Children's Alliance Family Violence Prevention Workgroup, the number of local domestic violence cases is growing.

For example, in 2018, the Ocala Police Department had 863 cases. The next year, it was 978. The total number of domestic violence cases within the past five years (2018 through 2022 in the city limits) was 4,572. That includes teen dating violence cases.

In the county, in the same five years, the number of cases was 13,912. Combined, the number of deaths was 38 as the end of 2022. So far this year, there has been one domestic violence death.

Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Marion welcomes help from another county for domestic violence services