The center’s ability to help domestic violence victims pay for prescriptions was gone, and home visits to people in rural areas had to be canceled. The government shutdown has led organizations that help victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse to cut back on lifesaving services, furlough staff and turn people away from shelters. Many groups are heavily reliant on federal funding that was scheduled to stop being allocated on Jan. 18 amid the nearly month-long partial government shutdown. Cindy Southworth, executive vice president of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, said the organization is “hugely relieved” that money continues to flow, but that it cannot rest because March 1 is weeks away. The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 800-799-7233.

Source: Washington Post January 20, 2019 13:03 UTC