More than $1.2 Million Lost in VOCA Grants

Unless Funds Are Replaced, Local Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Abuse Will Pay the Price

Critical Funding Lost for Second Year in A Row

(August 2022)

For the second year in a row, Pisgah Legal is facing drastic funding cuts of close to $1 million to its Domestic Violence Prevention Program because of a shortage of federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds. With this loss of funding, Pisgah Legal’s ability to provide essential legal services to survivors of domestic violence outside of Buncombe County is threatened.

Civil legal aid is an essential tool in the continuum of domestic violence services. Pisgah Legal’s attorneys and advocates take legal action so that survivors of domestic violence can escape abuse and rebuild their lives and financial stability. Pisgah Legal helps people obtain court protective orders, custody of their children, safe homes, and resources so that they can separate from their abusers. Unrepresented victims are more likely to return to their abusers for economic reasons or to be with their children.

We will not abandon those who need us most. You can help us continue to stand with survivors and their children.

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(June 24, 2021)

Millions of dollars in lost state funding is threatening to disrupt services for Western North Carolina (WNC) victims of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, and human trafficking, as well as similar services across the state.

The grants, which come from the North Carolina Governor’s Crime Commission’s allocation of federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) funds, are scheduled to end on September 30, 2021.

Pisgah Legal Services  (PLS) is losing $1.2 million in VOCA funding over the next two years. Other local nonprofits that have also lost funding include: Helpmate, Our VOICE and The Mediation Center. See how these organizations work together to serve clients effectively and compassionately. 

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What Impact Will This Have on People Here in WNC?

  • This grant is Pisgah Legal Services’ largest abuse prevention grant. These funds would have enabled Pisgah Legal Services to serve more than 3,500 adults and children per year and paid most of the costs for five attorneys, two victim advocates, two legal assistants, and an immigration law advocate.
  • The funding was used to serve clients in rural areas of 17 WNC counties with services prioritized for people of color, immigrants and people in more remote areas, who have been the most adversely affected by the pandemic.
  • Watch this news story on WLOS
  • Read more in this Citizen-Times Story 

Why Did Pisgah Legal Services Lose VOCA Funding?

  • The VOCA fund is filled by fines and penalties from federal prosecutions and a change in administrative process over the past several years greatly depleted the fund. VOCA grant dollars have decreased nationally, and the impact on the state and WNC is severe.

Why Are These Legal Services So Important?

 

Can the Funds be Replaced?

  • A bipartisan solution was recently approved by Congress and signed by President Biden to fix the issue. Unfortunately, it will take four to five years to feel the impact for programs in our community that rely on these funds.
  • Replacement funding is critically needed now from state and local governments, donors, faith communities, and foundations to mitigate this loss and prevent a dire lack of services for victims.
  • State and local governments could use American Rescue Plan Act funds to fill these gaps. Foundations could make substantial grants to ensure victims are served during this critical period. Gifts from individuals, corporations, and faith groups will be essential.

 

How Can I Help?

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