Domestic violence shelters in California will soon have another funding source. Governor Brown has signed a bill into law that creates a checkoff box on state personal income tax returns that allows you to donate to a newly-created victims’ fund. Shelters will be able to apply for a grant through the new fund. The Outreach Director for the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalition in Grass Valley, Stephanie Fisher, says that could help them to further defray expenses with their new shelter. The shelter, which opened about a year ago, has 16 beds, compared to 6 beds at their previous shelter…

click to listen to Stephanie Fisher

A grant approved by Nevada County Supervisors that helped fund construction of the new shelter, and other costs, expires in June of next year. Fisher says about 90% of the Coalition’s funding comes from government grants. She says they’d like to someday expand their prevention efforts…

click to listen to Stephanie Fisher

And despite now having more than twice as many beds available at the new shelter, Fisher says they’re still having to turn away about the same number of victims, with space full most of the time.