Samantha Beaupre

When I began my career in human services, I worked at what was then known as the Crisis Center of Central New Hampshire, one of the member programs overseen by the NHCADSV. At the time, I did not fully understand the scope of domestic and sexual violence in our state. I do now. These issues affect New Hampshire residents at an alarming rate, putting men, women, and children alike at risk. When access to support programs is reduced, reporting declines. When reporting declines, safety declines. That directly contributes to increased recidivism and continued harm. The coalition exists to ensure survivors have access to the resources and support they need. This bill sends the opposite message. It tells survivors that their safety is less important than other budget priorities — that they matter less. I ask you to consider whether that is truly the message New Hampshire wants to send. If it is, then so be it. But it would no longer reflect the New Hampshire I have known my entire life — a state that takes seriously its responsibility to protect and defend its residents. We pride ourselves on holding fast to our values rather than simply following national trends. This bill is not aligned with those values, nor with our responsibility to keep our communities safe.