These are scary times in the social services industry. The Legislature, which is considering reducing the state budget by around 15 percent over the next two years, is eyeing programs with a hatchet rather than a scalpel. The consequences of such massive cuts are sure to take a human toll on everyone from at-risk youth to seniors.

One program that must not be cut is Tooele’s Pathways House, a shelter for women and children who are victims of domestic violence. Pathways serves a segment of our growing society that has nowhere else to turn. It protects people who feel powerless and scared at a time when they most need protection. It hides the identities of victims as well as it hides its own location. These are functions that no other program or government agency performs.

Pathways should not only be protected from budget cuts, it should be expanded. The facility has been essentially running full for two years, and this year sheltered roughly twice the number of people as it did only two years ago, without adding any additional space. Right now, Pathways is being forced to turn away women and children who, in some cases, fear for their safety.

That can’t be allowed to continue.

The Tooele County Caucus should do everything they can this legislative session to assure that funding for Pathways, which comes via the state Division of Child and Family Services, is spared any cuts, even if an increase is out of reach at this time. And, looking to the future, the county should consider sheltering the shelter from the caprices of state lawmakers by taking over the program much as it did recently with the Tooele Food Bank. Domestic violence is a local problem, one we should combat on a local basis.

On an individual level, there’s much residents can do to help Pathways. Donating items for those staying at the shelter helps make a jarring transition easier and takes some of the strain off the program’s budget. According to shelter director Michelle Main, the program needs toiletries like soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste; household cleaning supplies; towels; diapers, wet wipes, car seats and other baby-related items; and puzzles and games for children.

Main said the shelter prefers in-kind donations rather than cash. Donations should be taken to Pathway’s main office in the Workforce Services Building at 305 North Main in Tooele. For more information on how to give, call Pathways at 843-1645.

Domestic violence is, regrettably, a growing problem of our growing population. To fight it, we need to support essential programs like Pathways House in every way we can.