Funding shortfalls could plague domestic violence programs in Stanislaus County
Nonprofit groups that support victims of domestic violence in Stanislaus County said funding in the proposed state budget is not enough to continue the current level of services.
Advocates said Gov. Gavin Newsom’s May budget revision fails to shore up a sizable gap in federal funding for crime victims. The dwindling federal support for these programs through the Victims of Crime Act has been a concern in recent years.
May Rico, executive director of Modesto-based Healthy Alternatives to Violent Environments, said Thursday that the organization will have to scale back services later this year if more state funding isn’t allocated.
VOCA has been a key source of funding for HAVEN programs including assistance for sexual assault victims at hospitals, counseling, support groups for domestic violence and sexual assault victims and assistance with restraining orders. HAVEN also supports children who have been sexually abused or have lived in violent homes.
“HAVEN would start to feel the impact of funding reductions in October,” Rico said in an email. She said HAVEN’s crisis line received almost 1,300 calls for assistance last year and the organization protected clients with almost 4,000 hours of shelter service in the past year.
“We need this funding to ensure that when (domestic violence) survivors call in a crisis, there will be an advocate on the other end to help them create a plan to escape safely,” Rico said.
About 250 organizations in California are asking the Legislature and Newsom for $260 million in one-time funding in the 2025-26 budget.
In 2024, local programs were facing severe cuts in federal VOCA funding, including a 45% reduction for victim services provided through the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s office.
In addition to one-time state funds to backfill VOCA shortfalls, Newsom signed a bill in September creating the California Crime Victims Fund as a long-term funding source for victim services. But it will take time before the victims fund is generating enough support.
California has received a declining amount of annual dollars from the federal crime victims fund, which accumulates financial penalties from people or companies convicted of white-collar crimes.
The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence said thousands of victims statewide will be left without resources or emergency shelter if programs have to be cut this year.
This story was originally published May 16, 2025 at 5:05 PM.
