Rape Crisis Program Providers, Elected Officials Call on Gov. to Fund Essential Services for Survivors

RCPs are currently contending with a $5 million cut that is forcing them to close or scale back services.

NEW YORK, NY (08/17/2026) (readMedia)-- On Tuesday, Rape Crisis Program (RCP) providers, advocates, and elected officials will call on Governor Hochul to immediately release funding for programs that form the backbone of New York's sexual violence response system.

Rape Crisis Programs are certified by the state to offer non-duplicated services like 24-hour crisis support and hospital accompaniment, trauma informed counseling and support groups; medical advocacy; criminal/legal system navigation; and community outreach and engagement. But this year, RCPs will lose over $5 million from the state's Office of Victim Services (OVS), which grants federal money that has historically served as the largest source of funding for RCPs. These losses represent the largest constriction of rape crisis programming in the state, with eight of 10 regions facing severe funding cuts that are already impacting operations.

Some RCPs are already cutting free legal services; laying off forensic interviewers; eliminating trauma-focused therapy and outreach; closing locations; and halting services for incarcerated survivors. Cuts also threaten RCPs' ability to partner with hospitals as they work to meet New York's 2027 mandate to provide Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) services in emergency rooms.

In addition to immediate funding increases, speakers will call on the Hochul administration to overhaul OVS's Request For Applications process, which makes little sense and fails to ensure that all communities in New York have equal access to survivor services. The first step in this process is working with providers and survivors to create a comprehensive and much-needed strategic plan.

WHO:

Christine Battisti, Executive Director of the Crime Victims Assistance Center (CVAC) in Broome County, which saw a 70% reduction in funding.

Kellyann Kostyal Executive Director of Fearless, a certified Rape Crisis Program in Sullivan County and domestic violence services provider for Orange and Sullivan Counties, which saw a 29%, reduction in funding.

Sadie Mahoney, Chief Program Officer at Kingsbridge Heights Community Center (KHCC) in the Bronx, which lost all of its OVS grant funding.

Meredith Ouderkirk, Director of Public Affairs of Restore in Monroe County, which saw a 49% reduction in funding.

Theresa Roth, Executive Director of the New York State Children’s Alliance, which is the member organization for the New York State's network of Child Advocacy Centers that have experienced a 31% reduction in funding.

State Senator Lea Webb.

Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz.

Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz.
WHAT:

A Zoom press conference with elected officials and Rape Crisis Program advocates and providers calling on the Governor to fund their programs after receiving major cuts from their largest source of funding.
WHEN: Tuesday August 18, 2026 at 10:00AM Eastern Time (US & Canada)
WHERE: Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83697701033?pwd=KBMiGMPVnBrmE4Lz9VMKeWH8cjJyPq.1
New York
NOTES:

Please write your full name and outlet in your Zoom name. Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83697701033?pwd=KBMiGMPVnBrmE4Lz9VMKeWH8cjJyPq.1