Below is Schakowsky’s letter to President Bush
 

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

I am writing to request that you include in your Fiscal Year 2004 budget request a minimum of $50 million for transitional housing assistance to individuals who are fleeing domestic violence or sexual assault. As you may know, a bipartisan group of over 115 members of the House of Representatives cosponsored legislation in the 107th Congress and signed a letter to you in support of funding for such a program through the Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

 The House of Representatives has repeatedly authorized transitional housing assistance for victims of abuse – in 2000 as part of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act and in 2002 as part of the Keeping Families and Children Safe Act.  However, this vital program has yet to receive any appropriations.  I believe that, with your leadership, we can be successful is securing this funding for the coming fiscal year.  
 
Transitional housing has been shown to prevent domestic violence and mitigate its effects.  Unfortunately, many women who leave their abusers lack adequate resources and, with a shortage of emergency shelter and transitional housing options, are forced to choose between abuse at home or life on the streets.  Yet, despite the fact that 50% of homeless women and children are fleeing domestic violence, there is currently no federal funding for transitional housing specifically for those victims.  

 It is critical that transitional housing be available to all those fleeing domestic abuse if we want to see an end to this violence.  Transitional housing resources and services provide a continuum between emergency shelter provisions and independent living.  A stable, sustainable home base for women and their children in transitional housing allows women the opportunities to learn new job skills, participate in educational programs, work full-time jobs, and search for adequate child care in order to gain self-sufficiency.  Without such resources, many women eventually return to situations where they are abused and even killed.  

 I would appreciate your support by including funding for transitional housing in your FY 2004 budget.  I look forward to working with you and your Administration on this important program for women and children.  Thank you for the attention to my request.

Sincerely,

Jan Schakowsky
Member of Congress