VICTORY! Survivor-Centered Nonprofits Receive Additional Funds for Life-Saving Care

NEW YORK, NY (08/28/2026) (readMedia)-- Today, Governor Hochul announced that she is restoring $36 million in funding to essential service providers that are the core of New York's sexual violence response network. The announcement comes after dozens of existing Rape Crisis Programs (RCPs), Domestic Violence Providers and Child Advoacy Centers (CACs) had lost a combined $36 million in vital grant dollars though the state's Office of Victims Services, which awards federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Assistance Grant Program funding to these programs each year.

Statement from Emily Miles, Executive Director of the Alliance Against Sexual Violence:

"These funding cuts were more than numbers on a spreadsheet. They meant fewer advocates answering calls, fewer survivors receiving support in hospital emergency rooms, and fewer communities with access to life-saving services. Rape Crisis Programs are the backbone of New York's response to survivors. The additional funds committed by the Governor today mean more providers can keep their doors open and their advocates on the line. We are deeply grateful to Governor Hochul for consistently putting the needs of survivors first and for taking steps to fix this mistake quickly. We look forward to working with her on real reform so cuts like this don't happen again."

Many RCPs hit hard by these cuts, including the only remaining program in the Bronx that received no funding through OVS this year, have been advocating for the Governor to restore this funding, which represented the largest constriction of rape crisis programming in the state. According to a recent survey from the Alliance Against Sexual Violence of 54 RCPs across New York, 42 had lost federal grant funding, amounting to $5 million combined. Eight of 10 regions faced severe funding cuts that were already impacting operations. Some RCPs were cutting free legal services; laying off forensic interviewers; eliminating trauma-focused therapy and outreach; closing locations; and halting services for incarcerated survivors. Cuts also threatened 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.

Now, these programs will receive a portion of the $11.7 million for RCPs of the combined $36 million the Governor is restoring for RCPs, domestic violence programs, and Child Advocacy Centers.

In addition to restoring these critical dollars, victim services groups continue to call on Albany to overhaul the way the Victim Assistance Grant Program is administered through OVS' Request For Applications process. The way the grants are awarded makes little sense, failing to ensure that all communities in New York have equal access to survivor services. It's imperative that all programs serving survivors have reliable funding streams through the state in order to provide critical social services to survivors. The first step in this process is working with providers and survivors to create a comprehensive and badly needed strategic plan.

RCPs are certified by the New York State Department of Health to train rape crisis counselors, or advocates, to provide free and confidential support to survivors of sexual violence. Certified Rape Crisis Advocates work 24 hours per day, 365 days per year to respond to pediatric and adult survivors both over the phone and in hospital emergency rooms and police precincts. They offer non-duplicated services-24-hour crisis support and hospital accompaniment, trauma-informed counseling and support groups; medical advocacy; criminal/legal system navigation; and community outreach and engagement.