As more people realise they have a problem with violence and reach out for help, the organisation tasked with delivering courses to combat violence, Stopping Violence Dunedin, is finding itself under pressure financially to help those who need it.
Between 150 and 200 people take part in Stopping Violence Dunedin programmes each year, with about 60% of those being referred to the organisation by the Department of Corrections and the Ministry of Justice.
Stopping Violence Dunedin operations manager Paul Martin said referrals from the Department of Corrections and Ministry of Justice were all funded but people who referred themselves or were referred by a lawyer or an organisation such as the police were not funded.
With the success of campaigns like ''It's not OK'' and other anti-violence programmes, more people were becoming aware of violence and were referring themselves to Stopping Violence Dunedin, Mr Martin said.
The organisation had to rely for the shortfall on the Dunedin City Council, community trusts and personal donations as well as a small amount of funding from other government departments, he said.
''We are very grateful to those organisations that do support us and the work we do because it is tough out there for everyone and they are coming under more pressure as well,'' Mr Martin said.
At the moment, the shortfall was about $70,000 a year, which was funded from reserves, but that was not a long-term solution, he said.
It was positive more people were aware of violence and wanted to help themselves but that meant Stopping Violence Dunedin had to find more funding to stay sustainable, Mr Martin said.
Stopping Violence Dunedin's services would not be affected in the short term, Mr Martin said.
However, the funding shortfall was putting pressure on the organisation's capacity to deliver the support and response that was needed, he said.
Dunedin South MP Clare Curran said it seemed Stopping Violence Dunedin was the victim of its own success.
''You would think it was a no-brainer that the Minister of Police and Minister of Justice would want to support these organisations who are making a difference in our communities,'' Ms Curran said.
Domestic violence was one of the biggest issues faced by communities and the police, the courts and other social agencies would agree, Ms Curran said.
Social Development Minister Paula Bennett referred The Star to her ministry, which could not comment yesterday.
To learn more about Stopping Violence Dunedin and its programmes visit www.stoppingviolencedunedin.org.nz.
