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Government shutdown forces domestic violence shelter to lay off half its staff

The shelter will have to lay off even more employees if the shutdown continues through February

HAMBLEN COUNTY, Tenn. — A local shelter is cutting half its staff after losing $100,000 a month in government funding during the partial shutdown. CEASE Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Shelter provides shelter to victims in six East Tennessee counties including Claiborne, Union, Grainger, Hamblem, Hawkins and Hancock. 

"With the cutbacks, all of our shelters are full, so people don't have safe places to go," said Executive Director Donna Kelly. "While we have hope and we're optimistic that the shutdown will be over soon, we really have to be realistic and plan and budget so we decided to lay off 17 members of our staff come Monday," 

Kelly says that adds up to about half of her staff. She says the decision came after the board realized the shelter would run out of funds completely after running at 100% staffing through January.

Running at half staff will allow CEASE to continue operating essential programs which includes food, shelter and the 24-hour hotline. All other programs are suspended including alternative housing and case management in court. If the shutdown continues through January, Kelly says she will be forced to cut more employees. 

"If it doesn't open up at the end of the month, an additional 5 will be laid off," she said. "We're reaching out to the community in every way possible to keep going."

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