Money makes the world go around, so the saying goes, but budget cuts could greatly decrease funds for organizations that are funded by state grants.
Hope Unlimited, an organization that works to end sexual and domestic violence in the community, is primarily funded by grants. Dorothy Sparks, executive director, said the recent budget cuts are bringing a lot of uncertainty to the group.
“We are not sure how it will affect us yet,” Sparks said.
This year Hope Unlimited will have to make a lot of decisions on what to cut within the organization. The cuts will take effect on July 1, so until then decisions are up in the air. Grants could be cut up to 10 percent.
Although decisions have yet to be made, Sparks said they are looking at other options for funding.
“We could look at alternative avenues as far as private funders go,” Sparks said.
Fundraisers are another possibility but sometimes that can be difficult in a smaller community, Sparks said. In July, the organization will kick off a 100-woman campaign. Each individual will help raise $1,000.
Hope Unlimited may also have to do a reduction of staff and instead get more volunteers involved. This will mean there will be fewer people taking on more jobs. In 2012, Hope Unlimited had 431 face-to-face victim services and 579 hotline calls.
“We don’t want to do it and it will hurt a lot of folks,” Sparks said.
Its volunteer coordinator is working to attract more volunteers. To save money Hope Unlimited has already cut down on traveling expenses.
In other areas of the state, shelters have reduced their hours to part-time to save money while others have closed completely.
Hope Unlimited fears cuts
