Join us on Twitter on Friday, March 4 to #SaveVOCA!
Thank you to everyone working to prevent devastating cuts to crime victim services. Over 30 organizations wrote to Governor Hogan in November requesting he include funding in the State Budget and stop cuts to core services for victims of crime. In January, community members, rape crisis centers, and services providers joined our Twitter Storm asking the governor to fill the gap in VOCA funds. Since then, advocacy has continued, but Governor Hogan still has not added more victim services funding to the budget. We need to persist. Time is running out.
Federal Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) funding supports services for crime victims all across the state of Maryland. These services support many types of crime victims, including sexual assault survivors, victims of elder abuse, human trafficking survivors, domestic violence victims, abused and neglected children, family members of homicide victims, and others.
Funds for these critical services will be drastically reduced this year, and the process to replenish the pool of funding will take an estimated 2-3 years. This gap in funding threatens to leave Marylanders without the help they need. Funds for services such as counseling, advocacy, domestic violence shelters, child advocacy centers, support for rape victims at the hospital, and victim-witness support in court will disappear unless Governor Hogan acts now.
The temporary funding gap can be filled using Maryland's historic budget surplus, but Maryland hasn't yet fixed the dip. A crisis is coming on Governor Hogan's watch – services for victims of rape, child sexual abuse, and sex trafficking are not luxuries.
On Friday, March 4, join the Twitter storm from 12pm - 1pm ET to tell Governor Hogan to fund the gap and save VOCA!
Sample Tweets
VOCA funding cuts threaten to end support for thousands of Maryland survivors. The state has to pick up the tab or leave survivors without the help they need. @GovLarryHogan a crisis is coming on your watch- please don't fail Maryland’s survivors! #FundtheGap #SaveVOCA
Massive federal funding cuts threaten to end federal support for thousands of Maryland survivors. The situation is dire. @GovLarryHogan don't let victim services fail on your watch- survivors need you to #FundTheGap!
Maryland's current excess funds + revenue projections for current and upcoming years = more than $4.5 billion. This historic budget surplus can easily cover the temporary gap in federal VOCA funding. @GovLarryHogan don't let victim services fail on your watch – #SaveVOCA!
The COVID crisis increased the # of survivors seeking services AND the # of services survivors seek. It’s essential they continue to receive the lifesaving legal services, advocacy, healing, & housing services they need. @GovLarryHogan a crisis is coming on your watch – #SaveVOCA
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