SC violent crime survivors could face funding decline

Organizations across the country that support victims of violent crime could soon face a $700 million reduction, meaning millions less in South Carolina, according to state and federal officials.

Since 1984, fees collected from people accused of federal offenses have been distributed to organizations that help domestic violence and sexual assault victims. But that fund could soon see a decline because of fewer federal prosecutions, including for white collar crimes, that raise money to help victims of crime.

South Carolina is expecting about $12 million this fiscal year through the Victims of Crime Act Fund, about $9 million less than last fiscal year, according to Robert Kittle, a spokesman for the S.C. Attorney General’s Office said.

“So, unless we can find another source of funding to supplement right now, then it would have a severe impact on the number of victims who can be served,” said Sara Barber, the executive director of the S.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. 

The nonprofit provides education and advocacy designed to help prevent domestic abuse and sexual assault.

Many nonprofits that assist victims of sexual assault and their families rely on financing from the Department of Justice’s VOCA Fund to offer free services, according to the federal Office for Victims of Crime.

The National Association of Attorneys General sounded the alarm earlier this month, asking Congress to put up “bridge funding” to make up for the projected $700 million loss in VOCA money. Last week members of Congress sent a letter to ranked leaders in the House and Senate, calling for measures to boost the VOCA Fund.

“Without this funding, our states will be unable to properly serve victims of crime,” the letter states.

The Department of Justice budget showed a maximum of $1.2 billion to be disbursed to the Crime Victims Fund next fiscal year, down from $1.9 billion this fiscal year.

Many nonprofits that assist victims of sexual assault and their families rely on financing from the Crime Victim Fund to offer free services, according to the Office for Victims of Crime.

Rocio “Chío” Núñez Ruiz, philanthropy and partnerships officer at The Hive Community Circle — a survivors support organization in Columbia — said cutting VOCA funding would hurt many organizations and survivors. 

“And so that could be obviously very, very alarming and even devastating for a lot of organizations that are very dependent on federal money,” Núñez Ruiz said.

Rebecca Lorick, the director of Pathways to Healing in Columbia, which provides free services to victims of sexual assault, said a reduction in VOCA funding doesn’t mean South Carolina won’t still support survivors.

“But that will definitely have a trickle-down effect, because that federal funding is so critical for us to continue to provide free services,” she said.

Pathways to Healing provides sexual assault survivors with services that include crisis intervention, individual counseling, clinical services and legal advocacy.  

“We don’t just serve the victim, or the survivor,” Lorick said. “We serve the victim’s family, because we know that it is a different community. It doesn’t just impact that victim. It impacts their loved ones.”

In April, Pathways to Healing will host its annual fundraising event at the South Carolina Statehouse called “Walk a Mile in Our Shoes.”  

Lorick said the fundraising event is designed to support survivors of sexual assault and raise awareness of the organization’s free services.