NEO Ohio organizations helping victims of crime and abuse are facing major cuts as grant funds are being chipped away

The ‘perfect storm’ is brewing as the Victims of Crime Act federal fund is being cut from many organizations like Journey Center for Safety and Healing. Organizations are seeing an uptick in abuse cases as the pandemic lingers on, but with less funding, they are struggling to provide needed care and resources.

Organizations in Northeast Ohio who serve and care for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and trauma face major cuts as grant money dwindles.

The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) of 1984 established a federal fund with money from “criminal fines, penalties and other fees collected by federal courts and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.” Once the money is collected, it is distributed to the state’s attorney general and distributed to organizations helping victims. Ohio cut its fund to $55.5 million (in 2020), just half of what it was two years ago.

Organizations braced for a cut, but not nearly to this extent. The result has exacerbated the cuts these organizations have had to make, like moving to smaller spaces, cutting resources, and laying off numerous employees.

This all comes after years of expansion to VOCA fund distributions. Some organizations used the expanded funding to add new resources that would accumulate in the annual budget. Others took a different approach and only added items that were one-time purchases, like buying a new van.

Journey Center for Safety and Healing used the funds it received to help open the Canopy Child Advocacy Center. Melissa Graves, the CEO, said they avoided other expansions.

This is a challenging and dangerous time to cut funding when there are reports of more severe abuse cases.