A group of professors and students at Fresno State, Fresno City College and Fresno Pacific University and concerned citizens have studied severe elder abuse and our community's poor response. We've identified a serious gap in services — the lack of adequate and appropriate emergency sheltering for these victims in immediate danger who lack money to pay for temporary housing. Options for these elders now include: staying with a friend or family member; placement in a shelter for battered women and their children or homeless people; or a social service issued voucher for an motel for a few days. These are all inadequate options, the elder usually ends up back in the same violent prone situation and this does not lead to a permanent solution to their serious dilemma.

Thus, Elder Abuse Services Inc. is hosting a petition from citizens of Fresno and Madera Counties who are concerned for their abuse elders in danger and agree that this is a serious gap in services and that these abused elders need a safe place to go to in the event of an imminent threat of violence that is now responded to with only a few days stay in a hotel or similar room without comprehensive services or plan to fix the problem. Thus, we strongly support the EASI mission to provide sheltering up to 90 days with wrap-around social services, support and an attempt for mediation (when appropriate) so that these victims can ultimately have a permanent resolution to their crisis and live out the rest of their lives in the peace and dignity these elders deserve.