Partners Against Violence works with victims of violent and sexual crimes and supports their clients from the first day the crime is reported through the legal / court system if that is the survivor’s choice, or they will work closely with the victim to reinstate safety and healing through programs that include counseling, support groups, educational workshops, and crisis intervention. If other specific services are needed that would be better served by other non-profits like Unity Home, Pacific Clinics, or Desert Mountain Children’s Center, Partners Against Violence (PAV) will make the referral.
The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Fund was created by Congress in 1984 to provide federal support to state and local programs that assist victims of crime. VOCA uses non-taxpayer money from the Crime Victims Fund (CVF) for programs that serve victims of crime, including state-formula victim assistance grants. These funds are generated by fines paid by federal criminals to support services for over 6 million victims of all types of crimes annually through 6,462 direct services organizations such as domestic violence shelters, rape crisis centers, and child abuse treatment programs.
Since 2019, the VOCA funds released annually have declined due to shrinking deposits caused by changed prosecutorial strategies over the last decade.
VOCA has informed PAV that 48% of its budget will be cut by October.
The Organization serves approximately 500 clients and their family members per year. The recent funding cuts will have a devastating impact on survivors and their families.
Partners Against Violence may have to reduce staff and cut services, but that option is not on the table now. Currently, they are working with Sacramento to find an alternate funding source.
Executive Director of Partners Against Violence Michelle Cates, emphasized the need for legislative action and urgent support. It will not cover operating costs even with some grant funding from private foundations and city government grants. Cates became emotional when thinking about closing offices or laying off staff.
“Why I’m so emotional about it is because we’ve spent decades building these services and we see the impact that they have on survivors.”
Cates continued emphasizing the impact of calling hotlines and finding them closed or receiving a call from a Forensic Nurse to stand by a patient, and there is no one to do the work.
Cates and others involved in victim services will continue to fight to keep the doors open and provide free services.
“So much of the work we do is less about talking about sexual violence and more about nurturing and encouraging dignity and respect for folks so that we change social norms.”
The dedication of all those who serve Partners Against Violence was apparent. Sara Shook, Program Director, said the cuts will be brutal, but if staff has to work from home, they will.
Representatives of PAV are currently lobbying for two critical bills: AB 1956, Crime Victim Services Stabilization Action, introduced by Assemblywoman Eloise Gómez Reyes. This bill would require the State office to allocate funds, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to fill the gap in the federal Victims of Crime Act funding and prioritize the continuity and stability of crime victim services if the federal grant funding awarded to the office is 10% or lower than the amount awarded in the prior year.
The second bill is AB 2432, Crime Victim Services Funding, introduced by Assembly member Jesse Gabriel. This bill would create a new state-level funding mechanism for the crime victim service programs.
Those who wish to support these bills should contact your legislative representative.
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