By admin 
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A Valley woman who says her life depends on staying hidden now worries the state may no longer be able to keep her safe.
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She’s a domestic violence survivor, and for more than a decade, a state program has helped keep her abuser from finding her.
She’s going by Tina because she doesn’t know what could happen if her former abuser finds her.
“I’ve been safe for many years, but I haven’t forgotten how dangerous this person can be,” Tina said.
More than a decade ago, she joined the state’s Address Confidentiality Program.
Without it, her address could be exposed by things like voter registration, the DMV or court records.
“If you have somebody actively looking for you that intends to harm you, it alleviates one huge gap,” Tina said.
Now she fears the protection she’s relied on for years could all go away.
Program funding missing from budget proposals
“We know harm can’t be committed if survivors can’t be found,” said Jenna Panas, CEO of the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence.
Right now, Panas said the $400,000 needed to fund the Address Confidentiality Program is not included in either the governor’s or the Legislature’s proposed budgets. That means it’s at risk of being cut completely or at least dramatically.
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“They are considering things like putting survivors on a wait list where they might not be able to access services, limiting services to survivors, so no new services,” Panas said.
She said the Address Confidentiality Program grows by about 20% each year. Right now, 3,000 people are actively enrolled.
“I have been thinking about it nonstop,” Tina said.
Tina said she’s wondering if Arizona will remain a safe place for her family.
“I’m trying to think in the back of my mind, if I need to leave, where do I go? Where do I go now?” Tina said.
Panas said there is still hope. Budgets aren’t finalized, and she plans to continue advocating to get this money included until she can’t anymore.
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