King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert Shares Her Story
BELLEVUE, Washington – What can you do to help someone who has had to give up every material thing – their job, their home – to make sure they and their children are safe? Being aware of others and reaching out in support can help provide the strength for someone to become a survivor. You might be surprised to find out how many people have had to deal with domestic violence.
“It’s true,” says King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert. “I am a survivor of domestic violence. I was afraid to stay, and afraid to leave. The turning point? When I was left for dead. I knew I had to create a safety plan to escape for my children and me, and when the time was right, we left. It takes a tremendous amount of help and encouragement to leave and start over.”
“Many survivors face an impossible choice – stay in an abusive home, or leave and risk being homeless,” says Barbara Langdon, LifeWire Executive Director. “The emergency services, safe shelter and housing support we provide has a profound impact on the families that can access them, but insufficient funding leaves far too many people without the resources they desperately need. For every one individual sheltered in our emergency housing, 25 are asked to call back until shelter space becomes available. When survivors and their children are unable to access safe and stable housing and advocacy services, their lives and the safety of our community is at risk.”
LifeWire is a lifeline for thousands of survivors trying to leave a violent relationship. Last year LifeWire reported a 22% increase in the number of Eastside residents in need of direct services. LifeWire is preventing and ending domestic violence by providing advocacy, services and support that help victims and their families escape, survive abuse and rebuild their lives.
If you are asking yourself, “What can I do?” take the advice of Councilmember Lambert: “Prevention is the key to keeping future generations safe from violence. Whether you are in government, industry, business, or a neighbor, we all need to work together to combat domestic violence. We must enforce laws to protect domestic violence victims and hold abusers accountable. We must improve public awareness, and speak up for those who can’t speak up for themselves. I’m asking you as a mother, an elected official, and a survivor, to stand up, speak out and lend a helping hand.”
Kathy will speak on May 3rd at the World of Hope Gala and Auction, LifeWire’s primary fundraiser at Meydenbauer Center, 11100 NE 6th Street in Bellevue, Washington, hosted by KOMO 4 News anchor Molly Shen. 100% of funds raised will provide life-saving programs and supportive services for victims in need. This is your opportunity to Stand Up and Speak Out.
Auction Honorary Co-Chairs Jim & Barb Barnyak, along with Chris & Thea Upchurch, promise a sensational evening with an exceptional wine & beer reception, silent auction, four-course gourmet dinner, entertainment, and dancing. “The live auction action is incredibly fun and unforgettable! We will be encouraging high-energy bidding on fantastic travel destination packages, unique getaways, and other items not otherwise available for purchase,” said Jim & Barb. “We are grateful to our supporters whose generosity creates a World of Hope for victims and families in need. Join us for a memorable evening!”
Included in the program will be the presentation of the prestigious Norm Maleng Award, honoring Stephen Norman, King County Housing Authority Executive Director, for his amazing years of work to create real systems change at King County Housing Authority, Building Changes, and the King County Interagency Council on Homelessness. His body of work has made a huge difference in improving the lives of domestic violence survivors in our community.
To register for the World of Hope Gala and Auction, please visit lifewire.maestroweb.com or contact Tiffany Solack at425-562-8840, ext. 249 or tiffanyms@lifewire.org. Tickets are only $150 per person for this remarkable evening.