The Issue Summary
The number of domestic violence cases in the US, both reported and unreported, is significant. The government is responsible for mitigating possible adverse outcomes of such occurrences for victims. The funds facilitated by the state ensure that victims can be accommodated, protected, and can receive medical and mental health assistance. The recent decision of Trump’s administration to reduce the expenses for domestic violence victims from $480,000,000 to $40,000,000 in the next ten years endangers the victims because social services’ goal is to save their lives.
Current Help Offered to Victims
Currently, the state of domestic violence prevalence is characterized by several factors. FBI estimates that 900,000 to 3,000,000 domestic violence cases occur each year. Additionally, only 1% of cases are reported to the authorities. Both non-governmental (NGO) and governmental organizations deal with issues connected to domestic violence. The primary focus of the services that offer help to these victims is on ensuring that they are kept away from the perpetrators. These services are aimed at warranting that individuals can return to normal life:
- Accommodation
- Concealing
- Satisfaction of basic needs (food and clothes)
- Support groups
- Medical assistance
- Legal help
- Child services
It is evident that establishments involved in guiding abuse victims take care of various aspects that are crucial for ensuring that victims are safe. It is worth noting that helping children overcome abuse is particularly difficult and requires additional attention. It is because their mental health is especially vulnerable to harassment. The components mentioned above need extensive financial investments because they support every aspect of a victim’s life.
The Decrease in Finding and its Consequences
It is crucial to understand the most victims of domestic violence are experiencing financial difficulties because they live below the poverty line. Minimizing the funding of organizations dealing with domestic violence would force the vulnerable population to return to abusers because they would be unable to support themselves. Additionally, this would cause health issues due to malnutrition and the inability to access medical services. Food stamps and Medicare will be the components of help most affected by Trump’s administration’s new strategy.
Changes offered for the affordable housing program will result in a 14% decrease in funding. This would result in victims that are unable to receive shelter having to stay on the street or return to the abusive environment. It can be argued that police and non-governmental organizations will be unable to accommodate all individuals who were previously receiving help from the government. Furthermore, this can result in increased crime rates and poverty.
The decision of the government to change the Medicare program will affect both victims that reported the crime and those who did not. This is because currently, the primary approach to identifying a victim of domestic abuse is through a medical examination. This evidence is often presented in courts to prove the guilt of an individual and protect the victim. Additionally, a lack of psychological support services will result in a severe worsening of an individual’s mental health. This would restrict an individual’s reintegration into society for adult victims. Children would develop phobias or other issues caused by domestic violence.
Conclusion
Overall, the decision of the government to decrease funding of services that provide help to domestic violence victims will endanger these individuals. Due to the new policy, they will be unable to receive accommodation as well as medical, psychological, and legal help. This would adversely affect the victim’s state, both physical and mental because non-profit organizations will not be able to assist all vulnerable individuals.