COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In an already challenging year, advocates for sexual-assault survivors in Ohio are grappling with major funding cuts.

The state's network of crime victim service programs and agencies relies almost exclusively on funding from the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA).

In 2019, VOCA grants decreased by 25%, and for the new fiscal year, funding is cut nearly 40% across the state.

Taylr Ucker-Lauderman, director of communications for the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence, said that's about 20 million fewer dollars, and Ohio is left to pick up the pieces.

"We've built some amazing programs around crime victim rights, around forensic kit testing, around law enforcement strategies," Ucker-Lauderman stated. "Ohio never was supporting these programs on its own, and we can't just automatically start doing that. So, we need federal legislators to also bridge this gap."

VOCA is funded entirely through fines and penalties paid by federal criminal offenders, so fewer prosecutions means fewer dollars.

Ucker-Lauderman thinks funding for victim services needs to be more diversified, and include dedicated state and federal sources.

Ucker-Lauderman added sexual violence prevention programs are examining how to operate with fewer resources.

In some cases, she noted, crisis centers may not have a therapist available, or be able to provide hotel vouchers for relocation. Survivors are already reluctant to come forward, and she's concerned they'll become even more discouraged.

"There have been times where we have to say, 'We don't have the funds available to provide the help for you.' So we have to turn them away," Ucker-Lauderman explained. "When that happens, it is very discouraging. We have had people tell us, 'I gave up because nobody could help me.' That's heartbreaking."

She pointed out one in four people is a survivor of sexual violence, so ensuring adequate resources are available for victims should be important to all Ohioans.

"This is their neighbors; this is their family, and this is their friends," Ucker-Lauderman stressed. "We absolutely cannot leave victims of crime on their own to pick up the pieces. We just can't."

According to the Office of Criminal Justice Services, surviving a crime like sexual assault disrupts the lives of thousands of Ohioans each year, emotionally, psychologically and financially.

As federal Victims of Crime Act funding continues to impact Kentucky's domestic violence shelters, advocates say they are applauding lawmakers decisions to include $6 million of the state budget's general fund for shelter and program operations, alongside a one-time allocation of $7.1 million to offset the impact of VOCA cuts.

ZeroV's CEO Angela Yannelli said the funding will ensure life-saving programs for people in crisis continue to serve those who rely on them - and who often have no where else to turn.

"We are extremely grateful to the General Assembly for listening to us," said Yannelli. "We've been talking about this since the interim session, about how VOCA has really impacted us."

According to the latest report from the National Network to End Domestic Violence, last year more than 1,000 adult and child survivors relied on Kentucky's emergency shelters and programs, that provide transitional housing, transportation, housing advocacy, legal support, therapy, and other supportive services.

Darlene Thomas, who is executive director of a Fayette County shelter, Greenhouse 17, said without continued funding, her organization would lose the ability to provide holistic wraparound services for survivors and their children.

"Housing, emergency financial assistance, help with getting back to employment," said Thomas, "we do all of the pieces to help people move from crisis to self sufficiency."

The state has also taken steps to protect survivors who want to exercise their right to vote.

A new program allows survivors of crimes, including intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and stalking, to hide their address on public records, including from voter rolls.

More information about the Safe at Home program is on the Kentucky Secretary of State's website.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and Ohio is expanding its qualified rape crisis centers serving rural areas in the central and southeastern regions of the state.

Taylr Ucker-Lauderman, chief engagement officer with the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence, explained that qualified centers have to meet certain criteria, and typically provide crisis intervention, legal and medical assistance, counseling and referrals to other local resources. She said collaboration among centers to assist sexual abuse survivors and educate the public about violence prevention is critical.

"One really exciting outcome of 2023 is that we did see two additional rape crisis centers identified as qualified rape crisis centers, which means that they are supported by the Alliance," Ucker-Lauderman said.

One in four women and about one in 26 men have experienced completed or attempted rape, according to the CDC. If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline. It's available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 800-656-4673.

Ucker-Lauderman added survivors of sexual assault often need housing and other basic resources, noting these services are especially needed in geographically isolated areas, and are often unavailable if domestic violence isn't co-occurring. Rape crisis centers may be one of the few options sexual violence survivors have.

"That means increasing the capacity of the service providers across the state, making sure that they have the training that they need, the funding, the staff," she said.

Molly MacMath, executive director of COMPASS Rape Crisis Center in Northeastern Ohio, said while centers, hospitals and police departments play a critical role in preventing sexual violence, communities should be working to come up with creative ways to approach the issue.

"There's so many other entities within our communities that really play a role in the awareness and prevention of violence," MacMath said.

According to Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence's annual report, last year rape crisis centers across the state provided 556 nights of shelter through the Alliance's Meaningful Access Housing Program.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. Advocates for sexual assault survivors in Idaho and across the country are pushing for a more inclusive view of who is impacted by this issue.

Trans, nonbinary and other gender-expansive individuals have largely been left out of data concerning sexual assault.

Amanda Goodson, Ph.D. is an assistant professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Security Studies at the University of Texas at El Paso.

She said the lack of data has started to change in recent years, but trans and nonbinary people face unique challenges for reporting violence.

"When they go to report experiencing - especially sexual victimization," said Goodson, "they have heightened barriers, or there may not be services that are available to their needs because we didn't have that or we didn't know about that experience."

Goodson said recognizing someone's identity can improve how we respond to their assault. Last week, Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed a bill banning the use of public funds for gender-affirming care.

Black Liberation Collective is a collection of trans youth in Idaho.

Program Director Paradise Newton said the lack of inclusion of gender-expansive people is telling, because data provides a "moral document" showing who we prioritize in our culture.

"Including trans and nonbinary people in our reporting about sexual assault is one of many necessary ways we can ensure that we accurately share information," said Newton. "But it is also one of many necessary ways we can be accountable to the survivors in our communities."

Goodson said it's important to be critical of data and understand who is included and missing. She said this will better serve people impacted by sexual assault.

"Having inclusive practices and having inclusive services and data that is inclusive as a whole," said Goodson, "will give us a better idea of how we can improve our responses."




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