Women Empowered Against Violence (WEAVE), one of D.C.’s foremost service providers for survivors of domestic violence, announced today that it is closing its doors. This is a huge loss for District residents in need of these services. WEAVE is currently the only D.C. organization that takes a holistic approach to problems faced by domestic violence survivors. Not only does WEAVE provide legal assistance to women seeking civil protection orders, but it also offers counseling, financial planning and education services. WEAVE also extends its legal assistance to immigration, custody and divorce issues. The idea is to address all the challenges women face in overcoming domestic violence so that they can make a clean break.
Unfortunately, WEAVE’s work will end by 2010. The closure announcement cited a decline in charitable giving and “shifts in government priorities” for the funding shortfall that is causing the shut-down. In past years WEAVE had received $800,000 from the D.C. Office of Victim Services. Back in July, sensing the city’s financial strain, WEAVE urged its volunteers and donors to contact City Council members to ask for their continued support of domestic violence services. Despite these efforts, the Council made significant cuts to victim services programs (along with a whole host of other cutbacks) and WEAVE lost its funding. Fundraising from private donors could not close the gap.
I have been volunteering with WEAVE for years, and I am heartbroken that they are closing. The staff is wonderful and has been providing an invaluable service to the D.C. community since 1996. Well done, WEAVE, we’ll miss you.
Update on 9/26: WEAVE has launched a fundraising site to keep it afloat. Visit www.saveweave.org for more information or to donate.