The Eastside Legal Assistance Program (ELAP) has spoken out against the King County executive’s proposed 2010 budget, which cuts funding to the organization’s domestic-violence legal program.

The group says it provides the only comprehensive legal-aid program for low-income domestic violence survivors in King County.

In an email to the King County Council, retired Washington

State Supreme Court Justice Faith Ireland said, “As council members you can right a wrong in the executive’s budget. In these economic times it is wrong to

cut legal aid for the poor. Such cuts intensify the spiral that leads to

homelessness by affecting people’s ability to pursue benefits such as

unemployment compensation, housing assistance or fighting eviction or

health care denials.”

ELAP says it has experienced a dramatic increase in demand for legal services, especially for domestic violence.