Tell Your Legislator to Fill the Gap and Support Victim-Survivors!

The pandemic has affected intimate partner violence victim-survivors and the programs that serve them in a magnitude of ways. Including increased isolation, reduced resources, and forced quarantine with their abuser. Programs like the Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP) have met the increased need, but now with an approximate 10% budget cut to the Federal VOCA grants, victim-survivors need your help to fill the gaps.

Some History: The Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (VOCA) Crime Victims Fund (CVF), was established as the primary funding source for victim services throughout the nation. 

Deposits to the CVF originate from criminal fines, forfeited bail bonds, penalties, and special assessments collected by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, federal U.S. courts, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The CVF supports state-administered victim assistance programs and crime victim compensation programs, discretionary grant awards, victim specialists in US Attorneys and FBI offices, and the federal victim notification system.

All of these funds are administered through the US Office for Victims of Crime (OVC).

The Victim of Crime Act’s (VOCA) Crime Victims Fund (CVF) is a non-taxpayer source of funding that supports thousands of crime victims services providers serving millions of victims of crime annually. Deposits fluctuate annually based on the cases that the Department of Justice successfully prosecutes. In 2017 funds were directed away from CVF and into the general treasury fund by the Trump administration. Due to this change in deposits and the decrease in cases throughout the pandemic, the CVF is at an all-time low and currently will continue to decrease until the funding is no longer available. 

What that means for victims now:

Lower deposits mean lower federal grant funding available to victim service programs like ours. Congressional leadership understands this vital issue and we are grateful to Senators for working on this critical bicameral, bipartisan bill to prevent additional catastrophic cuts. But the VOCA Fix Act will not stop the catastrophic cuts we are facing in FY21 or FY22.

Currently, Iowa’s FY21 award will be at a 5 year low at approximately $10,467,101. This means less funding to support services for Iowa crime victims. Reduced available dollars will impact funding to services that impact all victims of crime including domestic violence programs, rape crisis services, child victims, human trafficking, and other victims of violent crimes. DVIP and other programs in Iowa are expecting a 10% cut to our VOCA funding – For our program that is $82,624.00 this year alone with additional cuts to come in the future. 

Victim-survivors will not be able to find or receive the life-saving services we provide if something is not done. At a time when we have continued to see the effects of the pandemic on victims, we know that having staff and programs are vital to individuals finding safety and resources. Over the past year, DVIP has served nearly 1,900 individuals. We have continued to see a 28% increase in calls to our hotline every month since May 2020. However, we will be unable to hire a second crisis line advocate to help answer the phones due to these cuts. In addition, it is our rural communities that will suffer the most without funding from VOCA. Nearly all of DVIP’s counties rely on federal funding to provide victim services to their communities. As much as 90% of each county’s funding comes from federal grants. Placing this burden on victim-survivors who already face increased isolation and lack of resources is unacceptable when a solution is possible and within reach. Since 2000 the State of Iowa has withheld or level-funded victim services at the burden of the Federal Government. It is time for Iowa to stand up for survivors and fill the gap. 

Programs like DVIP’s provide life-saving support to victim-survivors. Through extensive training, and with expert problem-solving skills advocates, are able to meet victims where they are. Every victim’s circumstances and needs are different. Advocates work to build trust and provide trauma-informed care for free and confidentially to anyone in need. Tell your state representatives and senators to provide the vital additional funding of $2.5 million this year and next.

While it is too late to prevent the 35% cuts to Federal grant awards over the next two years, we can fill the gap to keep victim services funded. Join DVIP advocates and supporters in contacting your Senators (515.281.3371) and Representatives (515.281.3221) by phone, email, or by texting “PYDBMS” to 50409. 

Tips for Phone Calls:

• Ask the operator to connect you to the individual office. 
  • Switchboards for Senators (515.281.3371) and Representatives (515.281.3221)
• Agree to leave a message and let them know that you are a constituent. Elected officials are most interested in your opinions if you are their constituent, so be sure to say the city you are from.
• Be quick and kind! 
  • The receptionist/aide that you are speaking with must field multiple calls a day – keep your call short and kind to ensure speedy delivery to who you are calling.
• Know your facts and state your experience/expertise.
  • Sample Script: Hello, my name is ___________. I am a resident of ________. I am a survivor/supporter/donor/ calling to urge Senator/Representative _______ to support a funding increase of 2.5 million dollars for victim services for FY21 and FY22. Since 2000 the state of Iowa has withheld or level-funded victim services at the burden of the Federal Government. Now that Federal VOCA grant funding is at risk and is providing a 5 year low to Iowa’s victim service programs. It is time for Iowa to stand up for survivors and fill the gap! I urge Senator/Representative _____________ to act now to ensure that programs remain funded and support those most vulnerable!

Tips for Emails:

• • Let them know that you are a constituent. Elected officials are most interested in your opinions if you are their constituent, so be sure to say the city you are from.
  • Be direct, factual, and concise. However, feel free to add your own story to a form letter.

Dear ______________,

The pandemic has affected victim-survivors and the programs that serve them in a magnitude of ways including increased isolation, reduced resources, and forced quarantine with their abuser. Programs like the Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP) have met the increased need, but now with an approximate 10% budget cut to the Federal VOCA grants, they need your help to fill in the gaps.

Congressional leadership understands this vital issue and I am grateful to our US Senators for working on this critical bicameral, bipartisan bill to prevent additional catastrophic cuts to the already significantly diminished VOCA grants to domestic violence shelters, programs and other victims services. But the VOCA Fix Act will not stop the catastrophic cuts programs are facing in FY21 or FY22.

Currently, Iowa’s FY21 award will be at a 5 year low. Reduced available dollars will mean lost services that impact all victims of crime including domestic violence programs, rape crisis services, child victims, human trafficking, homicide survivors and others. DVIP and other programs in Iowa are expecting a 10% cut to their VOCA funding – For my local program that is $82,624.00 this year alone with an additional 25% cut next year and our rural communities will suffer the most.

Victim-survivors will not be able to find or receive life-saving services if something is not done. At a time when we have continued to see the effects of the pandemic on victims, we know that these programs are vital to individuals finding safety and resources.  Placing this burden on victim-survivors who already face increased isolation and lack of resources is unacceptable when a solution is possible and within reach. Since 2000 the state of Iowa has withheld or level-funded victim services at the burden of the Federal Government. It is time for Iowa to stand up for survivors and fill the gap. Programs like DVIP’s provide much-needed support to victim-survivors. Through extensive training and with expert problem-solving skills advocates are able to meet victims where they are. Advocates work to build trust by providing free and confidential trauma-informed care to anyone in need. DVIP will not be able to provide these vital services unless you vote YES for the additional funding of 2.5 million this year and next.

While it is too late to prevent the 35% cuts to Federal grant awards over the next two years we can fill the gap to keep victim services funded until the bi-partisan supported VOCA Fix can do its job in FY23.

Thank you for your time and attention to this vital funding issue,

• • Your name and City