Essential services for crime victims are in danger. Here’s what that looks like for Ottawa County.
The federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds essential services for our nation’s crime victims, including survivors of sexual assault, child abuse, family violence, and human trafficking. VOCA grants do not come from taxpayer dollars; rather, VOCA is funded by the fines, penalties, and forfeitures paid by people convicted of federal crimes. However, because of a significant decline in federal prosecutions, less money is currently going into the VOCA fund, which means major cuts to victim services. Michigan is currently facing a potential cut of 20% or more in VOCA funding.
In Ottawa County, two nonprofits, Resilience: Advocates for Ending Violence and the Ed and Nancy Hanenburg Children’s Advocacy Center, work together to serve crime victims of all ages. A 20% slash to Michigan’s crime victims service funds will directly impact our ability to continue these services. Domestic violence programs like Resilience provide emergency shelter, safety planning, legal advocacy, and long-term housing support for survivors fleeing abusive partners. Resilience’s sexual assault programs serve survivors in the immediate aftermath of an assault and throughout the healing process, including forensic nurse exams, crisis counseling, trauma therapy, and victim advocacy during medical visits, police interviews, and court proceedings. Nonprofits like the Ed and Nancy Hanenberg Children’s Advocacy Center provide trauma-informed forensic interviews to children who have experienced sexual abuse, physical abuse or witness crimes. These services include medical exams, age-appropriate therapy, and coordination of multi-disciplinary care through investigations, prosecution, and follow-up.
Our programs work closely with law enforcement, prosecutors, and child protective services to reduce trauma, protect dignity, and ensure accountability. Our work prioritizes crime victims and strengthens community awareness and safety. The looming federal shortfall means less evidence collection, fewer shelter beds, hotline closures, and diminished access to legal, medical and therapeutic support for crime victims.
But Michigan’s legislature can prevent those losses. While they continue to negotiate the state’s 2026 budget, our senators and representatives can meet the federal shortfall by allocating $50 million for crime victims service organizations. This investment would protect survivors, support law enforcement and criminal prosecutions, and help end violence in our communities.
We strongly encourage Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the state legislature to include this $50 million in the final state budget. Our greater Ottawa County community can amplify our appeal by contacting your state legislators. Use your voice on behalf of crime victims and ask state representatives Nancy DeBoer, Luke Meerman, Bradley Slagh, Greg VanWoerkom, and senators Roger Victory, Mark Huizenga, and Rick Outman to protect victim services in Michigan.
Resilience has been serving survivors for 48 years and the Children’s Advocacy Center has been helping child crime victims since 1997. Criminal violence unfortunately persists, and our organizations have the vested expertise and experience to support victims.
The time to act is now – we need your help to ensure we have the resources to continue serving survivors in Michigan.
Find your State Representatives: www.MichiganVotes.org
Make a direct impact today. Your donation helps Resilience respond to urgent crises, support long-term healing, and prevent future violence. Donate now and stand with survivors: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/resilienceadvocatesforendingviolence/
