Rape Crisis Centers Are Losing Funding. Survivors Shouldn’t Lose Support.
noviembre 25, 2025
Funding Cuts Are Closing Doors for Survivors
Everyone deserves support after being sexually assaulted. But right now, a survivor reaching out to a local rape crisis center or hotline could be met with a long waitlist, reduced hours, or even a closed door due to funding cuts.
Across the U.S., rape crisis centers and other survivor-focused nonprofits are facing major funding cuts, especially from federal streams like the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Crime Victims Fund, which has seen steep declines since the beginning of the year. These cuts are forcing programs to scale back or shut down entirely, just as demand for survivor services remains high.
Our Wave is seeing the impact in our own community and partner network. This article unpacks what is happening with VOCA, why it matters, and what we can do about it. The current political and social climate can feel overwhelming, but there are meaningful ways to take action to protect life-saving services and survivors who depend on them.
The Work of Rape Crisis Centers and Survivor-Focused Nonprofits
Rape crisis centers are there when you need them most. Many operate as 24/7 hotlines for anyone experiencing sexual assault. They can help provide hospital and legal advocacy, emergency shelter, counseling, prevention education, and access to support groups.
Survivor-focused nonprofits offer similar resources, but may not be equipped to provide 24/7 care. Some nonprofits service specific communities, such as rural areas, communities of color, LGBT+ survivors, immigrants, youth, disabled survivors, and others who benefit from specialized care. These organizations bring expertise to the challenges their communities face and are trusted resources for the survivors they serve.
There are also national networks that rely on local partners. For example, RAINN and the National Sexual Assault Hotline collaborates with local sexual assault service providers across the country to connect survivors with support close by. This is essential to help survivors access care rooted in their own communities, from trusted organizations.
Importantly, many rape crisis centers and nonprofits rely on federal and state grants. The largest funding source is VOCA, which comes from fines and penalties collected through federal court cases, not from taxpayer dollars.
VOCA grants support nearly 6,500 direct service organizations nationwide, including rape crisis centers, domestic violence shelters, and child abuse programs. Other funding streams include VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) and FVPSA (Family Violence Prevention and Services Act), which together support lifesaving services for survivors.
The VOCA Funding Crisis
Let’s dive into more information about VOCA and the recent cuts to better understand the gravity of the situation we are facing. VOCA created the Crime Victims Fund in 1984 to help states and organizations provide essential services for people affected by crime. It’s unique because it supports grants from fines and penalties from federal criminal cases, not taxpayer dollars.
VOCA dollars cover many important expenses for survivors, including:
Medical care
Counseling
Emergency shelter
Legal advocacy
Rape crisis hotlines
Survivor-focused nonprofits
So, what’s changed, and why are rape crisis centers losing funding? In the past few years, money flowing into the Crime Victims Fund has significantly decreased. There are two main reasons for this:
Fewer large corporate settlements
Slowdown in court cases
According to the Office of Victims of Crime, VOCA’s funding has dropped 70% since 2018, including a 40% decrease just since 2023. This has led states to scramble for dollars to keep services running for survivors.
Let’s take a look at some state-specific examples:
In Illinois, rape crisis centers have seen a 49% VOCA cut. They’ve had to freeze positions, cut resources, and close offices.
In Colorado, VOCA funding decreased approximately $10 million from 2023 to 2024.
Wisconsin faced almost a 70% decrease in VOCA funding this year alone.
146 service providers rely on VOCA grants in Oregon and have reported a total loss of $15 million in 2025.
A legal firm in North Carolina lost almost $2 million in the past two years for its Domestic Violence Prevention Program.
These are just a few examples. Every state has been affected. And it’s not just VOCA cuts that are hurting organizations. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has frozen or reduced other grant programs that support survivors of trafficking and other forms of sexual violence. In April alone, the Trump administration terminated 373 grants from the Office of Justice Program (OJP), which provides support for violence reduction and treatment.
These policy decisions are affecting millions of people across the U.S, and they’re happening while the need for services remains or even increases. For some hotlines and direct service programs, VOCA funding has been the only consistent support. If cuts continue to happen, even more serious consequences will follow.
The Impact on Survivors’ Lives
The consequences of these funding cuts impact all survivors. Survivors in rural and underserved communities are some of the hardest hit, as even temporary funding freezes can shut down the few available services for hundreds of miles. Survivors who face higher barriers to care, such as Black, Indigenous, and other survivors of color, LGBT+ survivors, disabled survivors, and immigrants, are also greatly affected.
The cuts impact many survivor services including:
Longer waitlists for counseling and therapy
Reduced hotline hours or fewer staff answering calls, increasing the chance that a survivor can’t reach someone when they need it most
Loss of hospital advocacy programs, meaning fewer trained advocates during forensic exams
Fewer legal advocates to help with protection orders, immigrations relief, and navigating the criminal legal system
Let’s take a look at a real example. The first rape crisis center in the U.S., the BRAVE Bay Area, officially closed its doors on September 30, 2025 after 54 years because of federal funding cuts. The center relied on these grants for over 90% of its budget, and due to the recent policy changes, they lost roughly that amount in funding.
Reading about all of this can feel scary and discouraging. That’s why it’s important to remember that help still exists. The National Sexual Assault Hotline and online chat are available 24/7. You can also find curated, trauma-informed resources on the Our Wave platform.
Why Survivor Support Services Matter
Survivor support services are essential infrastructure for our communities. They are part of public safety and community health. These organizations help people heal, stabilize housing, maintain or find employment, and navigate complex legal systems.
Every year, Congress and state governments make decisions that affect survivor services. As we’ve seen, these decisions determine whether organizations can expand, hold steady, or disappear entirely.
Congress has had a long history of bipartisan support for the Crime Victims Fund and other related programs, but as revenues decline and funding cuts increase, we need to make sure that support continues. Sharing survivor stories, mobilizing communities, and supporting campaigns can help push this message forward.
The #StandWithHer Campaign
One campaign that includes aspects of storytelling, community organization, and policy awareness is #StandWithHer. This campaign was inspired by the Oscar-nominated documentary, To Kill a Tiger, which is out now on Netflix.
To Kill a Tiger follows an Indian family seeking justice after their 13-year-old daughter was sexually assaulted by three men in their village. Since its release, the film has sparked global conversations about gender-based violence (GBV) and collective, community responsibility.
The #StandWithHer Campaign works to mobilize allies, empower survivors, engage men and boys, and ultimately work to end GBV. One specific part of the campaign is a petition to Congress calling for continued federal funding for both domestic and international programs addressing GBV.
You can sign the petition online, and every digital signature becomes a physical postcard sent directly to Congress. Each postcard includes a personal message from a constituent about why federal funding for survivor services and GBV programs matters. The cards are sent to key decision-makers on Capitol Hill who shape federal budgets and policy.
So far, around 17,000 people have signed the #StandWithHer postcard petition. The campaign goal is to reach 50,000 signatures. Ultimately, these messages can help lawmakers see the human impact that budget decisions have on rape crisis centers, DV shelters, and survivor programming.
The Power of Storytelling and Community
The #StandWithHer campaign was born from the powerful story told in To Kill A Tiger. At Our Wave, we greatly believe in the power of storytelling too. Our digital platform allows survivors a space to share their own stories, ask questions, and receive messages of support from our ally community.
While our platform serves survivors globally, many of our community members rely on local organizations for support as well. This could include in-person counseling, medical care, emergency housing, or legal help. All of these lifelines are threatened when funding is cut.
Along with the #StandWithHer campaign, we recognize that survivor stories are powerful tools for changing hearts, minds, and even policy. We continue to uplift this campaign and encourage our own community to add their voices to the petition and broader movement.
Take Action Against Funding Cuts for Survivor Support
You can help stand up to Congress and demand that support and funding for rape crisis centers and survivor-focused nonprofits continue. Here are some action steps you can take now:
Sign the #StandWithHer petition: It takes less than five minutes to sign this petition, where your signature becomes a physical postcard to Congress calling for continued federal funding for survivor services and GBV programs.
Support your local rape crisis center: Donate, volunteer, or amplify your local crisis center’s fundraising efforts. Find an organization near you with RAINN’s listings. Giving Tuesday is right around the corner – a perfect time to give as much as you’re able to.
Talk about it: Share this blog with your network, host a watch party for To Kill a Tiger, write about your own experience, and spread awareness throughout your community.
Advocate with lawmakers: Call or email your representatives about VOCA funding and survivor services, reminding them that their decisions affect whether crisis lines stay open or close.
There Is Always Hope
There are certain things in life that merit the expression “do more with less:” reusing leftover food to make another meal, using technology to automate repetitive tasks, eating healthier on a budget. But survivor support is not one of those things.
Survivors deserve stable, fully-funded support systems, not overstretched programs scrambling to keep their doors open. While this year might feel heavy, there is still hope. There is always hope.
Survivors, advocates, and allies can influence policy and protect life-saving services when we come together and raise our voices. #StandWithHer, Our Wave, and many other local, national, and global survivor-focused organizations are all part of the same movement for safety, healing, and justice.
Here are some ways to take action. Choose whatever feels right for you:
Or simply take a moment to care for yourself
Together, we can accomplish so much. Reach out for more information and help make sure every survivor gets the support they deserve.
