N l ay8, 2010

TrulaMotta,Director,
DCF
1317 Winewood Boulevard
Tallahassee,
Florida32399-0700

DearTrula,

As supportersof RefugeHouse,we knowthatthousands of womenandchildren

in our
community counton the life-saving andsexualviolence
servicesof the localdomestic
program. Recently, issuesin the agencyhavecausedus to
reportsof disturbing
questionthe qualityof servicescurrently
providedby RefugeHouse.Consequently, we
believe
ciientsafetyis at risk.

Experienced,trained,and highlyskilledstaffhavebeenforcedoutof the agencyand

replacedby inexperienced staff. Clientshavebeenturnedaway,toldtheyare"just
homeless", a womanspentthenightinsidea
or leftin the street.ln one instance,
cardboardboxbehinda localgrocerystore.We understand thatthestaffmemberwho
broughttheseissuesto the attention was
of the monitorsand Boardof Directors
targetedby management and forcedout of the agency.

Women,reportedly, havebeenturnedawayfor returning just minutesafter

to shelter
curfew.Womenhavebeendeniedmeals.Shelterfoodsupplies havebeenlockedaway
fromclients.Safetyconcernsof clienishavealsobeenminimized. In onecase,a woman
callingfor helpregarding
a dangerous paftnerwas toldit "tvasn't
ihat bad." Theabuser
did,in fact,comeafterher.

Thenewstateof the arl childcare cenierhas onlyservedfourchildren forthe past15

months,despitehighersheltercensuscountsthat haveincluded childrenin needof
services.Throughout theseallegedfinancial cuts,Meg Baldwin hasbeenableto use
u n r e stricted
donationsto pay herap p ro x ima t e$ly1 0 8 , 1 5 0 . 0p0e ry e a rs a la ry .T h e s e
decisions raisedoubtsaboutthe financial management at theagency.

As concerned supporlers of RefugeHouse,we believethatthepfogramneedsto hire

highlyqualified
staffthatcan restorethe integrityandthe qualityof the RefugeHouse
nameandprograms.!\'e furtherbelievethatstaifshouldbe weilsupervised by caring
andcompassionate we thinkclientsafetyhasto be the primary
Finally,
individuals.
priority
for RefugeHouse.Pleasesupportour callfor a safetyreviewof the agency.

RefugeHousehasworkedhardfor manyyearsto be a safeandsupportive havenfor

victimsof domestic
and sexualviolence. in thisway
Allowingihe agencytodeteriorate
is unacceptable.
Thankyou for addressingour concerns.

Sincerely,

citizens
donorsand concerned
Currentandformerstaff.volunteers,
(Nameshavebeenwithheldfor fearof retaliation)