What is taking NYS Crime Victims Board so long?

This is the most recent letter I have sent to CVB in NYS, and to Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski, and Senator Thomas Morahan:

CVB,

I am writing again because two weeks ago I phoned both CVB and my doctor's office, Advanced Chiropratic (Dr. XXXXXX), regarding the $1170.00 I have spent out of pocket months ago...and both parties agreed that the other had the information necessary to proceed with my claim for this out of pocket expense. I confirmed it Oct 28, 2009, with the office and Tana with the additional medical unit. I have still not been notified by CVB about this compensation. There are also 4 other doctors that I am waiting on, one of which I just started to see...Dr. XXXXXX. He has sent in all necessary paperwork as well...yet no response.

I am out so much money, and still collecting unemployment, which is bare minimum. In 2 months I will not even be able to afford my health insurance and worry about how I will be able to survive with pain and the inability to see a professional for my pain management. These are real problems those of us without a job or options are dealing with, and on top of it, I can't even get compensation for a crime that was committed against me. I can no longer be patient, I am getting very tired, I can't afford to pay co-pays every week and wait this long for CVB to get it together. Something else needs to be done. Last week Carla Morris, who is doing all she can to help me, suggested I call Social Services for help...they turned me down--unbelievably, unemployment is too high of a salary to qualify.

If someone can suggest any other ways I can get my medical expenses paid for, I would appreciate it. Other than this, if CVB is the only option, it needs major improvement. Some victims can't wait as long as I have been waiting, and continually paying out of my own pocket for a crime I didn't commit is a crime itself (unfortunately the laws in NYS prohibit me from filing a civil action against my abuser). I expect someone to come up with a better alternative or get this worked out, waiting is not an option anymore, I don't want to resort to taping my conversations with CVB employees and doctor's offices.

Thank you,

Maria Phelps



By now, NYS probably wishes my abuser would have finished me off after he broke my bones. That's okay. The less than prompt response, the confusion, and the constant wait for compensation is unacceptable. Again, I believe Crime Victims Board in all states have to make it a priority to start a specialized DV unit for claims like mine, there are so many women that can't wait as long as I have been waiting for out of pocket compensation. And, to add to this, I feel the lack of interest our state people exude regarding CVB and domestic violence victims is shameful. This is a state program, in place to help people that are innocent victims of a crime, why do I feel like a criminal? Someone needs to take an interest in CVB and domestic violence claims, and they need to do it now.

NYC victim finally gets some help, but not from Safe Horizon

After months of continuously struggling, the NYC DV victim I have been working with finally gets the help she deserves. Usually my posts seem to shine light on the agencies that are set up to assist DV victims, but fail...tonight I am shining a light on one agency that seems to be stepping up to the plate, and helping a domestic violence victim in need--an act of kindness that is rare among DV organizations.

After being turned away from Safe Horizon in her own city, this victim persistently tried to get the help she deserved by phoning, reaching out through email, and meeting with people in positions to help her. She continuously reached out to DV organizations in her area, Safe Horizon, LSHV, OPDV, My Sister's Place, Office for Women, Pace Justice Center, The Domestic Violence Hotline, her Assemblyman (Richard Gottfried, who has never returned her phone calls), and NOW NYC. With no luck and bad legal representation from LSHV, she tried the Northern Westchester Shelter in Westchester County and was able to find pro bono legal representation for her divorce case, and advocacy...something none of the shelters in both NYC and White Plains NY could provide her with. I am happy to mention this shelter on my site as a place that steps up and assists victims in need, and does not turn their backs on domestic violence survivors. This Shelter, Hope's Door Inc., is one of the few places I have witnessed advertise services and follow through. Places like Safe Horizon and My Sister's Place and all of the other organizations should take notice of this situation and try and follow suit so that no victim is left behind to struggle without support.

Today, it is a rare occasion when a domestic violence victim actually gets services from DV service providers advertising assistance. We need to speak openly about the places that help us and the places that ignore and turn us away, if not for ourselves, for others. When women reach out for my help, I already have a long list of places that will never really help these victims, places that are technically supposed to, but won't. I also have a long list, from my own experience of running through this DV maze for a year, of people who will try and help women in need find support. I consider myself an expert on this issue in NYS, not because I wanted to learn about all of the hoops a DV victim has to jump through, not because I wanted to spend endless hours reaching out and begging for help...but because I had to jump through the hoops myself, I had to find out that people in most DV organizations have little else to offer victims besides a hotline number and a pamphlet. So, a big thanks to the people at Northern Westchester Shelter for doing their jobs and making sure women that beg for help, get it.

Safe Horizon Turns Away Domestic Violence Victim...

Let me introduce you to the DV run around........


The Japanese immigrant victim that I am in contact with updated me on the run around that all of the domestic violence service providers gave her today, not much different from any other day. Warning: Prepare yourself, and try not to get confused.

This woman needs an advocate, a pro bono DV divorce attorney, and CVB assistance--should be simple with all the money all of these agencies get from the government. Every day this woman spends most of her work day contacting programs and DV organizations for help, she has been going through this for months with no luck. Today she tried Safe Horizon again and this is how it went...



Calls Safe Horizon----Safe Horizon turns her away, not accepting new victims---referred her to NOW NYC---calls NOW NYC-----NOW NYC refers her to Safe Horizon.

NO HELP


Wow, one full circle, at least it didn't take long.


The OPDV refers her to NYC bar association---waits on the line---gets transferred---gets transferred---gets disconnected.


NO HELP

Queens Legal Services calls her back---suggests she finds a lawyer in Westchester---she already knows this---they refer her to LSHV---she has already been involved with this group and they have failed her in the past---Queens Legal Services leaves a message for the Supervisor.


NO HELP


What is the problem here? No help from anyone, none of the service providers are giving this domestic violence victim any help. They might as well let monkeys answer the phone, I'm sure it would be much more entertaining. This woman must spend her work day calling and begging, no wonder so many victims lose their jobs over this issue. I know from experience how difficult this situation is, and how hard it is to try and get help from just one service provider. I only got help from one place in over a year, and it wasn't much help. Almost all of these places send you on this run around, they're the same every time. How can a shelter turn away a victim? How can a shelter deny a victim a court advocate? How can't one organization locate a free divorce attorney for this woman? Why must the battle against domestic violence be harder to fight once we are out of the abusive relationships?

President Obama, you're ignoring the problem...

I believe the White House is ignoring the problems at hand, and sweeping those problems under the rug. As a victim of domestic violence, who now knows many victims of domestic violence across the country and in my own state, I know that DV services are in GREAT need of an overhaul. DV services cannot provide more than a pamphlet and a hotline to victims, and this is a disgrace and a waste of government funds. Victims hardly ever see real assistance, rarely even get state programs like Crime Victims Compensation to compensate them for crimes committed against them, crimes that DV victims must pay for out of pocket. President Obama, if you want to break the cycle of violence, why don't you start in each state Crime Victims Compensation Program? Why don't you start in every Coalition "Against Domestic Violence" that collects donations for administrative costs rather than for victims in need of assistance? Why don't you start at every shelter and find out how many victims of DV actually have access to pro bono lawyers? The answers may shock you.




THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release October 1, 2009
NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, 2009
- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION

Domestic violence touches the lives of Americans of all ages, leaving a devastating impact on women, men, and children of every background and circumstance. A family's home becomes a place of fear, hopelessness, and desperation when a woman is battered by her partner, a child witnesses the abuse of a loved one, or a senior is victimized by family members.

Since the 1994 passage of the landmark Violence Against Women Act, championed by
then Senator Joe Biden, our Nation has strengthened its response to this crime and increased services for victims. Still, far too many women and families in this country and around the world are affected by domestic violence. During National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we recommit ourselves to ending violence within our homes, our communities, and our country.

To effectively respond to domestic violence, we must provide assistance and support that meets the immediate needs of victims. Facing social isolation, victims can find it difficult to protect themselves and their children. They require safe shelter and housing, medical care, access to justice, culturally specific services, and economic opportunity. The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act supports emergency shelters, crisis intervention programs, and community education about domestic violence.

In the best of economic times, victims worry about finding a job and housing, and providing for their children; these problems only intensify during periods of financial stress. That is why the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides $325 million for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). This funding will supplement the Federal VAWA and VOCA dollars that flow to communities every year, and enable States, local governments, tribes, and victim service providers to retain and hire personnel that can serve victims and hold offenders accountable. These funds will also bring relief to victims seeking a safe place to live for themselves and their
children.

Victims of violence often suffer in silence, not knowing where to turn, with little or no guidance and support. Sadly, this tragedy does not just affect adults. Even when children are not directly injured by violence, exposure to violence in the home can contribute to behavioral, social, and emotional problems. High school students who report having experienced physical violence in a dating relationship are more likely to use drugs and alcohol, are at greater risk of suicide, and may carry patterns of abuse into future relationships. Our efforts to address domestic violence must include these young victims.

During this month, we rededicate ourselves to breaking the cycle of violence. By providing young people with education about healthy relationships, and by changing attitudes that support violence, we recognize that domestic violence can be prevented. We must build the capacity of our Nation's victim service providers to reach and serve those in need. We urge community leaders to raise awareness and bring attention to this quiet crisis. And across America, we encourage victims and their families to call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE. Together, we must ensure that, in America, no victim of domestic violence ever struggles alone.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2009, as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I ask all Americans to do their part to end domestic violence in this country by supporting their communities' efforts to assist victims in finding the help and healing they need.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

BARACK OBAMA