Waymakers and other service providers are losing 45 percent of their funding.
California advocates and legislators are working hard to get funding before services are impacted. We can help!
Here are the details…..
2. $100 Million Funding to Support Crime Victim Services
In a state of emergency request, the Joint Legislative Budget Plan approved $103 million from the original ask of $200 million by sexual assault, domestic violence and crime survivors coalitions to help victims of crime in California. You can help take action by signing this petition in support of CA Governor Newsom signing off on this to include in the final state budget. Protect Survivors of Crime (oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net)
In California, and across the nation, crime victim services are largely funded through the Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) enacted in 1984, dollars collected through federal prosecutions that then get distributed to all 50 states to support victims of crime and services. The federal funding levels have been declining for several years and a legislative loophole was fixed, but it was too late and would take years to replenish the fund. California service providers received verification that crime victim service programs, like Waymakers, who provide assistance to victims of child abuse, sexual assault, gangs, homicide, human trafficking, and other violent crimes, as well as rape crisis centers, and domestic violence shelters across CA, will be hit with a 44.7% reduction in funding for FY 2024-2025 (beginning in October) at a time when rates of violent crimes are rising. This type of funding cut will be devasting to critical services provided to victims of crime and impact over 200 organizations.
The Statewide Coalitions representing victims of crimes are working with state legislators and the Governor’s office to try and remedy this situation through legislation and a budget allocation, asking to help backfill the federal VOCA funds in this time of crisis.
