Santa Clara County: State audit finds flaws in handling of domestic violence shelter funds

Article here. Excerpt:

'As they gather Friday for the 19th annual Santa Clara County Domestic Violence Council Conference, hundreds of participants -- from domestic violence shelters to law enforcement agencies, from judges to doctors -- might be surprised to learn that their well-meaning efforts over the years were critically hampered by a lack of coordination and accountability from some of the very county officials who support their efforts.

A recent state audit revealed that $715,000 in state-mandated funds collected by the county since 1995 and meant to be distributed to local domestic violence shelters sat in an account virtually forgotten by officials until the oversight was accidentally discovered in 2010. It wasn't until earlier this year that the money was ultimately distributed to shelters.

"I'm still inflamed -- I'm still so angry not knowing this money was sitting there," said Kathleen Krenek, executive director of Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence, the county's largest shelter for battered victims. She said that money could have been spent to prevent layoffs, to pay for rent or supplies -- even toilet paper -- to help keep the program going.'