DSVS Funding in Jeopardy – Help SafeguardCritical Services for Survivors
By Katie Fayad, Communications and Outreach Coordinator, DSVS
Over 80% of Domestic and Sexual Violence Services’ budget is threatened by the recent executive orders issued last week. The orders directly impact four of DSVS’s federal and state grant awards, which have been our most stable and reliable source of income since 2005. These funds make it possible to provide life-saving advocacy, emergency shelter, financial assistance for survivors fleeing violence, 24/7 Helpline support, and the operational costs that keep our offices in Carbon and Stillwater counties running.
Any suspension, freeze, or cut to these funding sources—no matter how brief—has immediate and devastating consequences for ALL of our services. For the first time in our history, we are being forced to prepare forscenarios we never thought possible, including:
Closing the Stillwater Office
Decreasing emergency shelter options for survivors fleeing violence• Terminating housing assistance
Halting our efforts to educate local youth about healthy relationships
Discontinuing other vital programming, including classes, initiatives with other service providers,and legal representation for clients
Laying off employees, reducing our ability to retain well-trained and community-connected staff
How You Can Help Right Now
We need your support during this crisis.
Here’s what you can do:
1. Contact Our Legislators in Washington
Tell them how a funding freeze or cut would devastate survivor services in our community.
Senator Steve Daines
DC Office: 202.224.2651
Helena Office: 406.443.3189
Rep. Downing
DC Office: 202.225.3211
Helena Office: 406.502.1435
Email: https://downing.house.gov/address_authentication?form=/contact/email-me
Representative Ryan Zinke
DC Office: 202.225.5628
Bozeman Office: 406.602.6030
Email: https://zinke.house.gov/address_authentication?form=/contact
2. Donate Today
The uncertainty of federal funding has already impacted our ability to operate. Every donation helps ensure survivors continue receiving support. (https://dsvsmontana.org/donate/)
3. Purchase Tickets
Help sell out the One-Legged Magpie and come see our neighbor thespians in Love, Loss, and What I Wore – performances begin at 7:00 pm on February 7th and 8th, tickets are $10, with all proceeds benefiting DSVS. It is important during challenging times to remember we are a community that helps one another. Please join us, bring your friends, and celebrate the power of the performing arts. Tickets can be purchased with this link:
https://checkout.square.site/merchant/MLNGWQJ7CGAKK/checkout/QUXGJ2VFFYKR3I7I4XFJQY62
Funding Threats Affect Our Entire Community
In the short term, this funding threat has already forced DSVS to cancel contracts with local businesses for services that benefit survivors and our mission. The threat has diverted precious capacity away from serving those fleeing violence and toward crisis planning. Financial support for survivors is being reduced, and our ability to hold perpetrators accountable is becoming even more challenging. Our community is more vulnerable to violence.
In the long term, with an unprecedented threat to 80% of our budget through 2027, we must prepare for drastic, possibly enduring service reductions that will have lasting disastrous effects for survivors and our community.
We are doing everything in our power to remain open and available. But we need your help. Contact your representatives, share this message, and donate if you are able. Survivors are counting on us—please do what you can.
If you or someone you know is experiencing violence, please call our 24/7 free and confidential Helpline at (406) 425-2222.