VAST seeking extra funding from county

SANDPOINT - Bonner County commissioners are being asked to broaden their support of the domestic violence Victim Advocate Services Team after it lost out on federal grant funding.

Wages for three domestic violence advocates will dry up on July 31 and VAST supervisor Peggy Sherbon is asking for nearly $80,000 to keep the team up and running.

“They're already somewhat committed,” Sherbon said. “We're just hoping we can convince them to be totally committed and stop this cycle of relying on grants.”

VAST currently has a budget of about $170,000, nearly $95,000 of which came from a U.S. Department of Justice grant, according to county Clerk Marie Scott. The rest, approximately, $75,600 comes from taxes paid into the county's justice fund.

The grant covered wages for three VAST advocates and miscellaneous payroll costs. The county provides the advocates' dental and medical benefits and an operating budget about $5,500, Scott said.

The request for additional funding comes after VAST learned it was not included in the latest grant cycle for the federal funds. VAST had been partnering with Transitions In Progress, formerly known as the Bonner County Homeless Task Force, but the partnership abruptly ended because of philosophical differences, Sherbon said.

Sherbon, Prosecutor Phil Robinson and commissioners are scheduled to huddle on Monday to consider the funding request.

VAST members are on call any time of day or night to assist victims of domestic violence. They help victims obtain protection orders and find them safe places to stay. Private donations are collected from the community to help victims pay for groceries, diapers, hotel stays and bus tickets.

Given the rift with TIPS, Sherbon doubts the county could secure its own Department of Justice grant due to grant criteria.

“The chances of them even considering it are pretty slim,” she said.