DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Shelter will get a boost from county legal fees

Sojourner House's United Way funding has seen a big reduction over the years.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Fees charged for marriage licenses, divorce and dissolution filings in Mahoning County will be used to help pay for the operations of Sojourner House Domestic Violence Program.
The Mahoning County commissioners passed a resolution to accept Burdman Group Inc.'s application to receive those fees.
Nancy Flinn, Burdman's interim executive director, explained that the fees cover about 10 percent of Sojourner House's budget.
"In addition to providing shelter to victims of domestic violence, Sojourner House offers a 24-hour telephone crisis line, judicial advocacy, case management, children's programming and support groups throughout Mahoning County," Flinn said.
Burdman Group handles Sojourner House's administration such as fiscal operations, human resources, marketing, clerical, maintenance, grant writing and other fund-raising projects.
Burdman also provides the same services for a variety of vocational rehabilitation programs in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties for people with disabilities and economical disadvantages in addition to offering residential programming to individuals with mental illness in Mahoning and Trumbull counties, Flinn said.
Funding sources
Flinn said the fees from the county marriage licenses and divorce filings are crucial for a balanced Sojourner House budget.
"The agency has to constantly be on the lookout for new sources of funding. Year after year, our expenses increase and our revenue sources decline," she explained.
One example of Sojourner's shrinking revenue is its United Way allocation.
"Several years ago, we received $100,000 a year from the United Way. This year our allocation was $76,000," Flinn said.
"In the '90s, there were years we received $58,000 in marriage license and divorce and dissolution filing fees. Our most recent amount was $46,000. Couples are living together and not getting married and therefore not divorcing, either, and that directly impacts Sojourner's allocation," she added.
Other sources of funding for the shelter are state grants; the Mahoning County Mental Health Board; the Mahoning County Department of Jobs and Family Services; and the Youngstown Community Development Agency.
More than 20 percent of the shelter's $500,000 budget comes directly from the community through donations, foundations and the support of two major fund-raisers.
"This year, we put on two new fund-raisers that are going to be annual events. 'Women's' Wellness & amp; Wisdom' will be at the Youngstown Country Club on March 5 and 'Chefs' Secrets' will be held at Stambaugh Auditorium next fall."
For more information log onto to Sojourner House's Web site at www.SojournerHouse.com or www.burdmangroup.com.