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August 4, 2007

Crisis Center awaits funding

By Raymond Billy

assistanteditor@jacksonvilleprogress.com

The Crisis Center of Anderson and Cherokee Counties is still in limbo regarding how it will make up for the expected $159,000 in state funding that wasn’t extended.

Katherine Cesinger, spokesperson for the Governor’s Office, said that the state is doing what it can to help, but hasn’t determined to what extent it will finance Crisis Center.

“We’re working with the Crisis Center to determine what essential services it provides that aren’t performed by any other organization in the community,” Cesinger said. “Once we’ve determined those services, the state may provide funding specifically for them,” she said.

Roger Pharr, director of development at Crisis Center, said that he hasn’t heard from state officials since last week but is confident “that some financial assistance is going to be given.”

Last week, Crisis Center Executive Director Donald Hammock said the organization was told that - even though state funding may be on the way for the 2007-2008 grant-year - eventually those funds are “going to have to be replaced with community funding,” he said. State and federal grants are considered seed money to help organizations like Crisis Center get started. Such organizations are expected to eventually raise financing through fundraisers, donations, etc.

The question is, is there a large enough financial base of citizens in Anderson and Cherokee counties to keep the Crisis Center going?

“Since the budget to provide services for these victims was over $600,000 last year, it is hard to know if the two communities would be able to fully fund the work of the Crisis Center,” Pharr said. “I do believe that community support – along with funding from foundations that are located in East Texas – could make up a good bit of the funds needed to keep our doors open,” he said.

Crisis Center operates two offices, two safe-houses and to thrift-stores. Pharr said the center juggles all of these endeavors in spite of limited staffing.

“Only 10 percent of our budget is used to operate the Crisis Center. The rest goes into direct services,” Pharr said before adding “still, [$600,000] is a big tab for any community to pick up.”

Crisis Center officials were still mystified as to why the East Texas Council of Governments prioritized it twelfth on its list of service organizations in need of state funding. But, he said, the trial has provided an opportunity for the center to makes its importance known to state officials, which Pharr believes could be beneficial in the long run.

“We have been able to communicate directly with state officials and let them know the impact we have on the communities we serve,” Pharr said.

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