YWCA Clark County Urges State Lawmakers To Expand Funding To Keep Doors Open For Survivors In Vancouver (Photo) - 02/11/26
Vancouver, WA -- YWCA Clark County is calling on state legislators to fund critical services for domestic violence and sexual assault programs, warning that without this funding, local survivors could face a reduction in services, fewer options, and potentially the elimination of key services. This request aligns with advocacy by the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WSCADV), which has alerted lawmakers that, statewide, flat or reduced funding will mean closed doors, unanswered crisis lines, and permanent loss of life‑saving services.
We need our community to push for $21.3 million in the SFY27 Washington State Budget to stabilize crime victims services statewide and prevent permanent loss of access.
If this is not granted, YWCA Clark County could be forced to scale back its 24/7 trauma-informed hospital response for people experiencing sexual assault and domestic violence at local emergency departments via Legacy and PeaceHealth SW Washington. Survivors who arrive at the hospital in crisis may have to navigate medical and legal systems alone, without an advocate by their side to provide safety planning, emotional support, and information about their rights.
In addition, reduced funding would likely shrink survivor support groups that help adults and youth heal from abuse, rebuild safety, and connect with others who understand their experiences. These groups are a core part of Vancouver’s community response to domestic and sexual violence, offering free, trauma‑informed support that many survivors cannot access anywhere else.
YWCA Clark County also warns that Southwest Washington’s only emergency domestic violence shelter could face cuts that reduce the number of families it can safely house. At a time when housing is increasingly unaffordable and survivors often must choose between homelessness and staying with an abusive partner, any reduction in emergency shelter capacity in Vancouver would put more lives at risk.
“Survivors in Southwest Washington should not pay the price for a state budget shortfall,” said Brittini Lasseigne CEO of YWCA Clark County. “We are asking our legislators to expand funding so that we can keep 24/7 hospital advocacy, support groups, and emergency shelter fully available to everyone who needs them in Clark County.”
Domestic and sexual violence affect every community in Washington, across race, gender, age, and income, and advocates across the state are united in calling for stable, long‑term investments in safety and healing. YWCA Clark County joins WSCADV and partner programs statewide in urging lawmakers to act this session to prevent the loss of essential services that survivors and their children rely on.
Residents of Vancouver and Clark County can support this effort by contacting their state legislators, sharing their concern about the potential loss of 24/7 hospital response, survivor support groups, and emergency shelter, and urging them to vote for expanded funding for domestic and sexual violence services.
About YWCA Clark County:
Founded in 1916, YWCA Clark County is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. YWCA Clark County began as a lunch counter serving women in the workforce and has evolved from renting a first apartment to the only emergency shelter system. Today, the organization offers the SafeChoice Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Programs, Y’s Care Therapeutic Preschool and Prevention programming in local high school and middles schools. For more information about YWCA Clark County, please visit: www.ywcaclarkcounty.org
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