As Florida Abuse Shelter Scandal Widens, National Abuse Coalition Calls on Lawmakers Nationwide to Strengthen Oversight

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Rebecca Stewart

Telephone: 513-479-3335

As Florida Abuse Shelter Scandal Widens, National Abuse Coalition Calls on Lawmakers Nationwide to Strengthen Oversight

WASHINGTON / February 26, 2020 – After continuing revelations of shady financial practices, mistreatment of shelter residents, and bloated compensation packages in Florida, the national Coalition to End Domestic Violence (CEDV) calls on state lawmakers to dramatically increase oversight of domestic violence coalitions and abuse shelters around the country.

Recently, a Florida ethics panel learned that Tiffany Carr, former director of the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, received $7.4 million over three years as part of her compensation package (1). In response, the Florida House issued subpoenas to 13 associates of the statewide abuse organization (2), and Representatives Ted Deutch and Kathy Castor sent a letter calling on the federal Department of Justice to investigate possible criminal activity (3).

In addition, the Miami Herald revealed the experience of a former shelter worker who lamented, “I saw so much stuff that just wasn’t appropriate. It was physically making me sick.” The Herald noted it had reports from “dozens of former domestic violence staffers who submitted hundreds of complaints.” (4).

Similar problems are known to affect other abuse coalitions and shelters around the country:

— A Special Report documented dozens of examples of deficient shelters, identified 12 major problem areas, and offered recommendations for improvement (5).

— An article in the Washington Post revealed how lack of proper oversight led to the closure of a Maryland shelter, with one shelter resident declaring, “It was a living hell.” (6)

— Laura Ewing, former employee of the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault, was sentenced to three years of probation for unlawfully writing 34 checks payable to herself (7).

— A review of Department of Justice audits of Violence Against Women Act grantees documented widespread financial abuses. Out of 47 recipients of VAWA funds, 34 were found to be “Generally Non-Compliant” revealing the abuse agency failed to meet minimum standards across a broad range of indicators (8).

A recent analysis of salaries of Executive Directors at state domestic violence coalitions shows the average Total Compensation Package is $112,466 (9).

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