Urgent action needed to save critical services for crime victims

OPINION – In 1984, Congress took a crucial step in supporting victims of crime by enacting the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). This legislation aimed to provide federal backing to state and local programs serving this population through the Crime Victims Fund (CVF). Unlike other government programs that are fueled by taxpayer dollars, the CVF is funded by fines and fees associated with the federal prosecution of white-collar crimes. So, those who exploit victims are then required to fund support programs and resources – it really is a full circle program.

Because VOCA funds are distributed to states based on population size, California receives a significant percentage. These funds are the backbone of support for 400 unique agencies across the state dedicated to serving survivors of crimes ranging from child abuse and elder abuse to sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking. As such, these agencies provide critical services like emergency response, housing, case management, victim advocacy, legal aid, and culturally specific programming. As a result, VOCA is the largest and most consistent funding source for this population in California.

Unfortunately, we have witnessed an alarming decline in available funds over the years. Though there have been some attempts at the federal level to address this crisis, such as the VOCA Fix Act of 2021, it has not been enough to sustain adequate funding levels. Deposits into the CVF have dipped to historically low levels and the annual releases have declined significantly.

And it does not look like it is getting any better with the Biden-Harris Administration recently proposing $1.2 billion in next year’s budget for VOCA, which is a staggering $700 million shortfall from the previous year.

These sharp drops in funding for California nonprofits will directly result in victims of crime not being able to access much-needed services. Without VOCA, it is hard for many of us to even keep our doors open, especially those in rural areas and those serving marginalized and historically underserved communities.

Organizations across the state have conveyed the alarming impacts of these potential funding cuts: decreased availability of safety planning, emergency housing, legal services, and culturally specific support programs, along with the looming possibilities of staff layoffs, increased wait times for services, or complete organizational closures. But these pleas are not receiving the attention they deserve, as the demand only continues to rise.

These sharp drops in funding for California nonprofits will directly result in victims of crime not being able to access much-needed services.

Service providers throughout the state report escalating requests for assistance and rising rates of violence in communities. At the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (Cast), we have a 15% increase in emergency cases compared to 2022. Severing the lifeline of care that these services provide is simply untenable. If we are unable to provide the services that human trafficking survivors need, they will be increasingly vulnerable to the dangers of being re-trafficked.

Simultaneously, amidst this fiscal uncertainty, on-the-ground organizations have noted a surge in interest from legislators wanting to “do something” about human trafficking in their districts. However, the most common response seems to lean toward carceral measures—sentencing laws and other law enforcement-based interventions that, unfortunately, do little to address root conditions or even provide the critical support survivors need.

For those wanting to “do something,” the solution is clear and unequivocal: adequately fund the essential community-based services that provide life-saving support to survivors. While debates ensue about whether the federal government or the State should bear the responsibility for ensuring consistent VOCA funding levels, it is ultimately the survivors and their families who will pay the steep price of inaction.

We urge state leaders to join the California VOCA Advocacy Alliance in requesting $200 million in ongoing funding from the General Fund to counteract the imminent VOCA funding cuts.

Now, more than ever, action is imperative. It is the time for California to rise to the occasion, demonstrate leadership in the fight against human trafficking, and solidify its commitment as a champion of victims’ rights. The call for immediate action resonates not just within the hallowed halls of government, but in the hearts of survivors and advocates alike.

The time is now for California to stand tall and protect the lifeline that thousands of survivors depend on.

Kay Buck is the Chief Executive Officer of Cast, a Los Angeles–based nonprofit organization working to put an end to human trafficking through comprehensive, life-transforming services to survivors and a platform to advocate for groundbreaking policies and legislation.