Domestic violence is going up in San Diego at the same time that services for victims are being threatened.
Statistics compiled by the YWCA show complaints of domestic violence increased 11 percent across San Diego County this year. William Landsdowne, the San Diego Police Chief, said that trend held true for the City of San Diego.
"In the last six months we were sent to 192 additional domestic violence calls," he said.
Landsdowne and others say this is likely the result of hard economic times and the family tensions they create. Heather Finlay is CEO of San Diego YWCA, which runs the domestic violence shelter Becky's House. She said matters are made worse by dramatic state funding cuts for domestic violence programs.
"For us that is 20 percent of our budget," she said. "Which is a huge chunk to lose overnight."
Finlay said she's hoping for financial help from individuals and foundations.
