Demand Federal Funding for Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Services
Right now, lifesaving services for survivors are on the chopping block. Due to delayed and eliminated federal funding, programs that protect and support survivors of sexual and domestic violence are in crisis.
What’s at Risk:
- Rape crisis centers and domestic violence shelters may close
- CDC’s only domestic violence prevention program (DELTA) may be eliminated
- Rape Prevention & Education (RPE) faces deep funding cuts
- VOCA (Victims of Crime Act) funds are delayed, leaving programs in limbo
- Proposed plans to merge or weaken the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW)
This is not a future threat; it’s happening now.
We have also included brief explanations below of some of the grants and programs that are at stake. Click here to scroll down to the section.
Take Action Locally
You can participate and take action by calling or emailing your Senators and sharing this information with your network. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that survivors receive the support they need.
- To find your US Senators, visit: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm
- For US House Representatives, visit: http://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
- For NY Senator, visit: https://www.nysenate.gov/find-my-senator
Take Action Nationally
There are also some key Congressional Committees that you can reach out to. Even if the members of these committees are not your direct representatives, their decisions impact federal funding for victim services nationwide. Your voice still matters, and you can help influence national policy by reaching out. We've created a separate email template you can use when writing to committee members. Click here to scroll down to the section.
Key Congressional Committees:
- Senate Appropriations Committee - https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/about/members
- House Appropriations Committee - https://appropriations.house.gov/about/membership
- Senate Judiciary Committee - https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/about/members
- House Judiciary Committee - https://judiciary.house.gov/about/membership
Call Script Example
Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a constituent from [Your City, State].
I’m calling to express my concern about the recent termination of over 360 federal grants that support essential services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. These cuts threaten the availability of emergency shelters, legal advocacy, trauma counseling, and prevention programs in our community.
I urge Senator [Last Name] to take immediate action to:
- Restore and protect funding for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA).
- Oppose any efforts to merge or weaken the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW).
- Ensure timely release of VOCA funds to prevent service disruptions.
These programs are not only lifesaving but also cost-effective. For instance, VAWA saved $14.8 billion in victimization costs within its first five years.
Please stand with survivors and advocate for the necessary funding to keep these critical services operational.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Email Script Example
Subject: Urgent: Protect Funding for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services
Dear Senator [Last Name],
My name is [Your Name], and I am a resident of [Your City, State]. I am writing to express my concern regarding recent federal funding cuts that jeopardize essential services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
The abrupt termination of over 360 federal grants has placed emergency shelters, legal advocacy, trauma counseling, and prevention programs at risk. Additionally, proposed eliminations of CDC’s DELTA and RPE programs, along with plans to merge the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), further threaten the support systems survivors rely upon.
I respectfully urge you to:
- Restore and safeguard funding for VAWA and VOCA.
- Maintain the independence and strength of the OVW.
- Ensure the timely disbursement of VOCA funds to prevent service interruptions.
Investing in these programs is both a moral imperative and a fiscally responsible decision. VAWA alone saved $14.8 billion in victimization costs within its first five years.
Survivors in our community depend on these services for safety and healing. I implore you to take decisive action to protect and restore this critical funding.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Email Address]
Email Example for Key Congressional Committees
Subject: Please Protect Federal Funding for Lifesaving Victim Services
Dear Senator [Last Name],
My name is [Your Name], and while I may not be a constituent of your state, I am writing as a concerned advocate for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault across the country. With you being a [member/chair of the Insert Committee], I urge you to act swiftly to restore and protect federal funding for critical victim service programs, including:
- VOCA (Victims of Crime Act)
- VAWA (Violence Against Women Act)
- FVPSA (Family Violence Prevention and Services Act)
- OVW (Office on Violence Against Women)
- DELTA and RPE prevention programs
These programs are the backbone of emergency shelters, legal advocacy, trauma counseling, culturally specific services, and prevention education. Delays or cuts in funding leave survivors with nowhere to turn, and communities without essential support systems.
Due to recent funding disruptions:
- Over 360 federal grants were terminated
- Rape crisis centers and shelters are at risk of closing
- Prevention programs are on the chopping block
- VOCA reimbursements are delayed with no clear timeline
- There are plans to restructure or weaken the Office on Violence Against Women
These aren’t abstract concerns; they are happening now. Survivors are already being turned away. Staff are being laid off. Entire programs are shutting down. These losses will cost lives.
This is not a partisan issue. More than 600 organizations and over 100 bipartisan lawmakers have sounded the alarm. We need Congress to act with urgency.
Please stand up for survivors and ensure these vital programs receive the funding and stability they need to continue saving lives.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[City/State]
What Do These Acronyms Mean?
VOCA – Victims of Crime Act
VOCA is a major source of funding for victim services nationwide. It supports crisis hotlines, emergency shelter, legal advocacy, counseling, and more. The money comes from fines and penalties paid by convicted federal offenders, not from taxpayers. Delays or cuts to VOCA impact essential services for survivors.
VAWA – Violence Against Women Act
VAWA was first passed in 1994 to improve the response to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. It funds services like law enforcement training, court programs, and community-based support for survivors. VAWA has strong bipartisan support and has been reauthorized several times, but it needs robust funding to remain effective.
OVW – Office on Violence Against Women
This office within the U.S. Department of Justice administers VAWA grants. It provides leadership on policies, training, and funding to combat gender-based violence. Proposals to merge or weaken OVW threaten the expertise and oversight needed to support survivors and prevent violence. In 2022, Congress reaffirmed that the OVW must remain a "separate and distinct office" within the Department of Justice (DOJ), with full grant-making authority.
DELTA – Domestic Violence Prevention Enhancements and Leadership Through Alliances
DELTA is the only federal funding source dedicated solely to the primary prevention of domestic violence. It supports community-level strategies to stop violence before it starts. Eliminating DELTA means ending one of our best tools for long-term change.
RPE – Rape Prevention and Education Program
Funded through the CDC, RPE helps states and communities implement education and prevention programs to stop sexual violence. This includes school-based education, bystander intervention training, and community outreach. RPE is critical to building safer, healthier communities.
FVPSA – Family Violence Prevention and Services Act
The primary federal funding stream dedicated to supporting emergency shelters, crisis intervention, prevention programs, and supportive services for domestic violence survivors. FVPSA ensures that victims and their families have access to safe shelter and resources across all communities.
OFVPS – Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services
Administers funding through the FVPSA. OFVPS funds emergency housing, crisis services, prevention efforts, and culturally specific programs. Current delays in funding threaten critical services for survivors nationwide.
HUD – U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Provides critical housing assistance and funding for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, including transitional housing, rapid rehousing, and emergency shelter support. These programs help survivors rebuild stable, independent lives.
