In yesterday’s front-page article, it was reported that Safe Passage faces a financial predicament that threatens the organization’s ability to operate.

Is it too much to say that a group, whose sole purpose is to provide services to victims of domestic and sexual violence, should not be put on the backburner when it comes time for the State to pay up?

In the Oct. 14 DeKalb County Mental Health Board’s special meeting, Safe Passage made a financial request and stated, “As of today, we do not have enough money to meet the next payroll.”

Thankfully, the DeKalb County Mental Health Board granted Safe Passage $65,000 so that it may get through until mid-December.
Even then, Safe Passage may have to close, temporarily, until it receives state funds.

Safe Passage Interim Director, Jerry Lane, said that the $65,000 would “avoid disrupting the clients who are a vulnerable population anyway, who are trauma victims.”

Safe Passage receives 71 percent of its funding from state and federal grants, which is why the $100,000 that the state owes Safe Passage is so vital.

Even though the state can hold onto federal pass-through money to collect interest to cover its costs, it should disburse money sooner rather than later.

This social service agency provides everything from community education to short and long-term housing for victims and their children.
Those in need of these services do not have the luxury of patiently waiting for them.

It is understood that the state itself is in financial trouble with a deficit of over $11 billion, but even the numbest analysis of the situation would conclude that Safe Passage should receive its due funds so that it may function.

To simply put it: Pay up.

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