Federal funding cuts will create a 'crisis' for victim services agencies in Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The network of nonprofits that run Ohio’s victim service programs faces a funding cliff – and if it’s left unaddressed, some won’t survive the fall.

Over 300 organizations across the state help crime victims access housing and healthcare, navigate the courts and recover from violence. From rape crisis shelters to mental health programs and court-appointed advocates, these agencies rely on federal funding from the Victims of Crime Act, funding that has been cut nearly in half after several years of significant decline.

In fiscal year 2018, Ohio received more than $118 million for its assistance programs from the Crime Victims Fund, which is not financed by taxpayers but rather through fines, penalties, and forfeited bail bonds in federal cases. Last year, the state received $46.6 million. In fiscal year 2024, Ohio has been awarded $26.7 million, a 42.8% decrease from 2023 and a 77% decrease from 2018.

VOCA awards aren’t the only funding source for victim assistance programs, but they’re often a significant portion of agencies’ budgets. Some organizations rely wholly on VOCA grants to sustain their operations, said Rosa Beltré, president and CEO of the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence (OAESV).

OAESV and other agencies are calling for action at the local, state and federal level to bridge the funding gap. The statewide sexual violence prevention organization, which oversees nearly three dozen local rape crisis centers, could face devastating impacts to service, Beltré said.

“It would mean layoffs, service reductions. Programs will continue to go ahead and reduce staffing. It would be a crisis,” Beltré said. 

Local rape crisis centers run their own hospital advocate programs, meaning they send advocates to emergency rooms to meet victims and survivors. But OAESV provides hospital accompaniment and legal help in 12 rural communities without local crisis centers – and those services are also at risk.

Court-appointed special advocate programs in Appalachian counties are also likely to bear the greatest weight of VOCA funding cuts, said Doug Stephens, executive director of Ohio CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), which oversees CASA programs in 60 counties. Court-appointed special advocates are volunteers who look out for children’s best interests when navigating the court system. 

Advocates make up what Stephens called the third leg of a three-legged stool: Lawyers figure out what’s legally required for a child, social workers determine what’s physically safe for a child, and court-appointed special advocates make recommendations as to what is emotionally and socially best for a child. That might mean advocating for a child to live with a family member who lives in the same school district or ensuring proximity to mental health care providers.

Stephens said it’s hard to secure local funding for CASA programs because they’re not required by law. While programs in large counties will likely be able to weather the storm, Stephens said up to 10 programs, mainly in Appalachian counties, face closure due to the funding cut.

“Judges, they’re making these life and death decisions for these children. And the lawyers do their part, and the social workers do their part, but the judges can always use more information,” Stephens said. “It’s the judges that asked for this, but it’s not mandatory.”

In February, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and more than 40 state attorneys general urged Congress to provide funds to bridge the VOCA award gap. Beltré said state lawmakers can help make up the lost funds, too, without necessarily making taxpayers foot the bill.

Spokespersons for the Ohio House and Senate majority caucuses did not respond to requests for comment. Neither did the Attorney General’s office.

The funding decrease comes amid rising demand for services. LSS Choices, Franklin County’s sole domestic violence shelter, is frequently at capacity, said Rachel Lustig, president and CEO of Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio. The funding cliff is particularly worrisome as domestic violence homicides in the area rise; a record number of domestic violence homicides happened in Columbus last year.

“It's happening just when people are needing us the most,” Lustig said. “So here we are, our primary funding source no longer there, providing us with something that we can count on when people need a safe place to go.”

Beltré said OAESV, meanwhile, has seen a 93% increase in care requests since the start of the pandemic. A one-time funding boost from the federal government would help stave off imminent threats, but it won’t solve the long-term problem. Ohioans need to understand the breadth of services at risk without buy-in from their communities, Beltré said.

“It really takes a village to actually eradicate violence of any type within our communities of practice,” Beltré said. “We need the alliance of our communities to step forward.”