FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 14, 2024

Press Contacts:

Grace Glaser, Public Affairs & Policy Manager: gglaser@valor.us, (916) 446-2520 x323

Megan Tanahashi, Strategic Communications Analyst: megan@cpedv.org, (916) 800-4856

SACRAMENTO, CA — In response to Governor Newsom’s revised budget proposal, Leigh LaChapelle of the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking and the California VOCA Advocacy Alliance issued the following statement: 

“By failing to include $200 million to maintain funding for victims’ services programs, Governor Newsom chose to allow steep cuts to core services for victims of violence throughout California—cuts that would increase homelessness as a result of domestic violence, cut off access to mental health services after experiencing sexual violence and child abuse, and create barriers to advocating for victims of human trafficking as they navigate the legal system.

Due to a reduction in federal funds from the Office of Victims of Crime, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is implementing a 44.7% reduction in funding to crime victim services. This means that beginning this coming fiscal year on July 1st, thousands will be left without essential, lifesaving services in a crisis: there would be 19,216 unmet requests for shelter–forcing Californians experiencing domestic violence to choose between staying in an abusive environment or homelessness. Organizations would lack the resources to serve 18,069 people after experiencing sexual assault, 7,436 children and families in the aftermath of child abuse, and 508 victims trying to escape human trafficking. Governor Newsom claimed to preserve core services in the May Revise, but disregarded the ones people need to heal after a crime.

Reflecting upon the potential loss of essential workers in her agency, Michelle Cates, Executive Director of Partners Against Violence, recently asked, ‘What happens when we are no longer there to answer?’ Unfortunately, we know the answer: without safety planning and healing services, crime victims may be left on their own, increasing the risk of injuries, deaths, and mental health crises. The toll on Californians is already too costly—both in terms of human suffering and emergency expenditures to the state—and will only worsen without additional funding. Sexual violence costs California $140 billion annually and the lifetime economic burden of domestic violence is nearly $400 billion in our state.

We demand urgent action from Governor Newsom, Speaker Rivas, Senate President pro Tempore McGuire, Senator Weiner, Senator Wahab, Assemblymember Gabriel, and Assemblymember Ramos, as well as legislators from both parties. Advocates will continue calling for $200 million in the state budget, as well as support for AB 1956 (Reyes) and AB 2432 (Gabriel).”

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The California VOCA Advocacy Alliance consists of statewide organizations dedicated to supporting survivors of crime, advocates, and their communities. Our large coalition works to advance the rights of survivors of trafficking, child abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, and others. With a common goal to advocate for our communities, we center equitable access to victim services in our decisions.