The only nonprofit agency dedicated to helping domestic violence victims in San Mateo County is cutting back its services as a result of the recession and state budget cuts.

Even as domestic violence appears to be on the rise, Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse this week announced layoffs and plans to drastically reduce community education and prevention programs. Staff also will no longer provide long-term case management for victims.

CORA officials said they were forced to focus their dwindling resources on programs that help people in immediate danger — a 24-hour hot line, a 20-bed emergency shelter and providing staff to assist when police respond to domestic violence calls.

"You have to focus on critical services, and that's what we're doing," said Natasha Guest, director of development and communications.

The nonprofit had to slim down in order to stay viable, officials said. With revenue falling 20 percent compared to last fiscal year, six workers were laid off Tuesday: two administrators, two attorneys, a community outreach worker and a client services worker, Guest said.

That same day, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's veto pen eliminated funding for a statewide domestic violence program, which slashed CORA's funding by another $400,000 — about 15 percent of the agency's $3.2 million budget. Guest said she was unsure whether more cuts would be needed.

"We can't make up the $400,000 with individual donations overnight, but certainly we'll be reaching out to the community," Guest said. "It's hard during the recession. Everybody's hurting."

The agency will still provide short-term help to victims, allowing them to stay in shelter beds for several weeks until they can find a stable living situation.

More than 100 people stayed at CORA's emergency shelter over the past year, compared to about 60 a few years ago, Guest said. Calls to the hot line are up 20 percent and requests from law enforcement for staff to talk with domestic violence victims are up 27 percent.

To donate to CORA, visit www.corasupport.org, or call 650-777-9868. To reach CORA's 24-hour domestic violence hot line, call 650-312-8515 or 800-300-1080.