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Rep. Annie Kuster discusses government shutdown with sexual assault survivors

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New Hampshire Rep. Annie Kuster met with survivors of sexual assault Friday, to discuss the impact the partial government shutdown is having on federal funding.

"Everybody's lives are in jeopardy. It's scary," said one survivor who did not want to be identified.

Kuster met with those survivors at Turning Points Network in Claremont, a crisis center that gets federal funds.

"They're really scared that if the shutdown continues and we lose some of those services. We're talking about if the community loses some of those services that they will come to a screeching stop," said Deb Mozden, executive director of the center.

The Office on Violence Against Women could be impacted if the shutdown continues, which potentially could affect the Transitional Housing Program.

"We have 34 survivors right now we're supporting through that program, that if that funding were to end, they would be homeless in a day," Mozden said.

The New Hampshire Department of Justice has budgeted some federal funds through the fiscal year, but other funds could be impacted.

"Should this shutdown continue beyond when those funds are available, crisis centers in New Hampshire won't have the resources to be able to provide life-saving services," said Madison Lightfoot with the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.