‘We cannot decline anymore’ Anti-violence agencies host news conference amid drastic cuts to Victims of Crime Act

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) –  Several sister agencies are coming together to speak up for those that often remain silent.

Robin Gauthier the Executive Director of Samaritan House in Virginia Beach, Sanu Dieng the Executive Director of Transitions Family Violence Services on the Peninsula, Michelle Ellis Young the YWCA of South Hampton Roads Chief Executive Officer, and Olivia Smithberger the CEO and President H.E.R. Shelter in Portsmouth held a joint press conference for the first-ever.

“We’ve come here today with a collective voice. A voice that is resonating with urgency,” said Gauthier.

Gauthier explains there has been a steady decrease for Victims of Crimes Act (VOCA) where money from restitution for crimes nationwide is used help victims. VOCA, which was passed by Congress in 1984, works to provide funds to states for victim assistance, and also for programs that offer support.

The agencies assist victims of violent crimes including domestic violence survivors, sexual assault and human trafficking. 

Hampton Roads agencies explain nearly 50% of their funding has been cut over the last five – years.

-Samaritan House estimates cuts of $200,000-$300,000
-YWCA of South Hampton Roads estimates cuts of about $600,000
-H.E.R. Shelter estimates cuts of about $100,000
-Transitions Family Violence Services estimates cuts of about $200,000

The most significant cuts have been to the 24-hour hotlines, emergency shelters, court advocates and more. The anti-violence agencies are hopeful state lawmakers to establish a ‘put victims first grant program’ to fill the gap in funding. As well as pass two bills to fill the funding gap of $30 million dollars.

“For the first time in the 15-years that I’ve been at the organization, I’m actually terrified about our ability to confidently say that we offer comprehensive services,” said Dieng, who serves on the State Advisory Committee.

“I’m worried about that phone call when I have to tell someone, ‘I’m sorry we can’t offer you shelter. We have a waitlist.'”

If state leaders don’t act fast, to replenish the money starting in July services will be reduced to victims in Chesapeake, Hampton, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach.

“Somebody will end up paying with their lives. Somebody will not have made it because we couldn’t pick up the phone. We couldn’t go with them. We couldn’t be there for them. We didn’t have enough staff to be at the shelter so that we could,” said Smithberger.

The impacts will have lasting impacts on law enforcement and court systems. For example, Virginia Beach currently has over 2,000 protective orders for misdemeanor domestic violence cases.  In the past, the Samaritan House employed four victim-advocates to assist victims in court, now there are only two to assist with over 1,000 victims a year.

“At this point we cannot decline anymore. It is affecting critical essential services,” said Gauthier.

Since the pandemic, deadly domestic violence and more severe cases of sexual assault and human trafficking all have gone up. 

“We wouldn’t second guess for one moment police officers, firefighters, [or] EMTs. We would fund them and make sure they continue to have the funding that they needed to be able to be able to respond to emergencies. We are first responders as well,” said Dieng.

That trend of increased violence continues into 2024.

“We don’t have the capacity to keep up with the demand of violence,” said Ellis Young. “We should not have to legislate for humanity.”

Organization leaders are asking for Senate and House leaders ‘to stand with survivors’ and their children.

“If we’re not able to take care of the services that are necessary, we’re failing the next generation of children who are already crying out for help,” said  Ellis Young.