The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors could vote Tuesday to approve spending $600,000 to support to operators of rape crisis centers, with one supervisor saying the county needs to offer support the state did not in its latest budget.
The bulk of that money - $503,000 - would go to YWCA Silicon Valley, based in Santa Clara, and the rest would go to Community Solutions, with offices in San Jose, Morgan Hill and Gilroy.
The state's 2018-2019 budget had provided $5 million in one-time funding for rape crisis centers throughout the state, but that money isn't forthcoming this year, said Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez in a statement.
Sexual assault victims go to Valley Medical Center for forensic exams. If those victims ask for crisis advocates, the YWCA and Community Solutions provide them. In early 2020, the county will open sexual assault forensic exam clinics in Gilroy and Palo Alto.
"No one should have to wait for hours, days or weeks for assistance after experiencing probably the worst thing that has ever happened to them - a sexual assault," said Chavez, who will speak to reporters at 9 a.m. Tuesday before the Board of Supervisors meeting, which begins at 9:30 a.m. at the County Government Center, 70 W. Hedding St., first floor, in San Jose.
