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As federal funding for crime victims services dwindles, states are scrambling to find a way to fund these services on their own.
DENVER — A bill making its way through the Colorado statehouse would set up a permanent funding solution for crime victims services here.
“People don’t really think about victims services until you need them. Nobody thinks they’re going to be a victim,” said Brie Franklin, Executive Director of the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
As federal funding for crime victims services dwindles, states are scrambling to find a way to fund these services on their own.
Franklin said VOCA, or federal funding from the Victims of Crime Act, has dropped sharply in recent years.
“The fund has decreased 90% since 2017,” Franklin said. “And just this last year, it’s decreased by half, by 50% from last year.”
Franklin said VOCA keeps the doors open and services going for many advocates around the state. But with VOCA funding drying up, vital services like counseling and crisis intervention are at risk for deep cuts, and even program closures.
“The thought of losing those – I don’t know where victims would go then,” Franklin said.
“To have this kind of hanging over our head of the possibility of jobs being lost, services being lost, doors being closed, nowhere for victims to go is not OK. That is not an option,” House Majority Leader Monica Duran (D) said.
Duran is working to make sure those services stay in place. She knows how critical they can be.
“Survivors that come out the other end, in the only way they can,” Duran said. “And me being a survivor myself, the only way I was able to — and others — is having those services there to be able to help them.”
Duran is sponsoring a bill that would create a steady source of state funding for victims services through a 9% gun excise tax.
If lawmakers approve it, it will head to the voters to decide on the November ballot.
Duran said they need to fund crime victims services now, before they go away.
“Unfortunately, and I’m sad to say, that the dollars have decreased but the need has not. And this is why we’re doing what we’re doing and just going to work really hard to make sure we can get this across the finish line in November,” Duran said.
That bill has already passed through the House and will head next to the Senate.
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