Oregon advocates warn of cuts to vital services for domestic, sexual abuse survivors
In the current state legislative session, there are three bills currently put before lawmakers, the Oregon Department of Justice's POP (Policy Option Package) #327, House Bill 3196 and House Bill 3070, all of which pertain to funding for victim services.
The DOJ's POP #327 bill would provide $22 million to stabilize funding for services such as emergency shelter, crisis intervention, safety planning, as well as legal and emotionaladvocacy for survivors.
Cuts have eliminated more than a dozen US government health-tracking programs
HB 3196 would provide a one-time investment for the federal VOCA (Victims of Crime Act) funding, which allows victims to apply to be reimbursed by the state for expenses they've received.
If passed, HB 3070 would give funding to the Oregon DOJ to distribute to the Attorney General's Sexual Assault Task Force, responsible for working with law enforcement, hospitals and other community-based victim services organizations.
Clackamas Women's Services (CWS), argues these bills could 'make or break' services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, as the funding received from them could 'maintain services at current levels' when need for them is increasing annually.
Ribbon cut on new $313M Clackamas County Courthouse
According to CWS, service providers in Oregon saw an average increase of 30-50% in services to meet an increase in need during 2024. CWS added their organization saw an increase of 43% in advocacy services, 31% increase in crisis line calls, as well as a 25% increase in the number of survivors they served.
'These funds provide critical safety net services and support programs that maintain safety in our communities,' said Melissa Erlbaum, executive director of CWS. 'We cannot afford a decrease in funding at this critical time of need.'
Other advocacy groups like CARES Northwest argue the services provided by Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) would also be affected by these bills. CACs give medical exams, treat child abuse, provide family support services, as well as trauma therapy.
Jenny Gilmore-Robinson, Executive Director of CARES Northwest, said a lacking of state funding for CACs would cause staffing shortages, increased wait times and fewer people receiving care.
'Consider what it's like to tell a terrified parent that their child will need to wait weeks for a child abuse evaluation appointment, or months to start counseling to begin to heal,' she said. 'This is the nightmare scenario that drives us every single day to try to do more with less. And it is impossible.'
Oregon's current legislative session began on Jan. 21 and is scheduled to run through July 29.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
‘Betrayed': Gov. Kotek reacts to projected loss of $15B in federal funding
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Oregon is following the passage of President Donald Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill' in early July. The cuts are expected to directly impact health insurance coverage including the Oregon Health Plan and SNAP food benefits, among other programs, according to a preliminary analysis from the State of Oregon's Chief Financial Officer. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Gov. Tina Kotek shared the following statement about the cuts on Monday: 'The Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress have betrayed American children and families, who will become sicker, hungrier, and less prosperous because of President Trump's budget bill. Oregonians will see less of their federal tax dollars coming back to our state for things they count on. Furthermore, President Trump and Congress knew that state governments cannot pay for this substantial gap in services but went ahead and did it anyway. 'I am going to work with Oregon lawmakers and community partners to do all that we can to stand up for Oregonians and get through this needless, callous hardship. I will continue to hold the line and push back as Oregon values are under threat. I hope Oregonians will stand with me as we fight this together.' Kyle Camberg with the Portland nonprofit Sunshine Division said this comes at an already challenging time. 'The past five and a half years we've served and helped more families than at any time in our 102-year history. The amount of variables that have made it difficult for not just Portlanders, but Oregonians and everyone in the U.S., have not only seemingly increased since the pandemic. And so, if these numbers are accurate, it's really troubling,' Camberg said. The report also says Oregon State Police and the Oregon Department of Forestry are set to lose money this budget cycle, and it says the bill takes away funding for the I-5 Rose Quarter Project, meaning the total financing is no longer secured. Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
‘This ends now': AG Bondi threatens PNW leaders over sanctuary jurisdictions
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Multiple leaders from Oregon and Washington received letters from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Aug. 14 after she called out the sanctuary jurisdictions The letter demands that sanctuary cities and states comply with federal immigration enforcement efforts, and gives them until Aug. 19 to respond with their agreement. 'Any sanctuary jurisdiction that continues to put illegal aliens ahead of American citizens can either come to the table or see us in court,' Bondi said. The social media post also included a copy of the same letter sent to California Governor Gavin Newsom. 'You are hereby notified that your jurisdiction has been identified as one that engages insanctuary policies and practices that thwart federal immigration enforcement to the detriment ofthe interests of the United States. This ends now. By Tuesday, August 19, 2025, please submit a response to this letter that confirms your commitment to complying with federal law and identifies the immediate initiatives you are taking to eliminate laws, policies, and practices that impede federal immigration enforcement,' the letter said. The U.S. Department of Justice named Portland, Oregon and Washington on its list of sanctuary jurisdictions released Aug. 5. 57234cf0-84a4-4229-8dba-0f4649a97a4aDownload The states and cities listed have come under fire for having regulations that prohibit local officials from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement. 'I will share a more detailed response to AG Bondi on Tuesday. That said, Washington state has no intention of changing our values in the face of threats from the Trump administration,' Washington Governor Bob Ferguson said in a statement. 'The federal government's relentless targeting of law-abiding immigrants is wrong. The Keep Washington Working Act is an important law that helps protect Washington families in the face of this assault. The Keep Washington Working Act requires our state and local law enforcement to focus on keeping Washingtonians safe, rather than allowing limited resources to be used for federal immigration enforcement. Protecting hardworking Washingtonians who are abiding by our state laws and keeping families together reflect our values as a state.' Letter from Pamela Bondi of Office of the Attorney General – Washington, D.C. –Download 'I will fight for the safety and prosperity of every Oregonian, from recent immigrants to people who have been here for generations,' said Oregon Governor Tina Kotek in a statement. 'Threats like this undermine our values and our right to govern ourselves. We will not be bullied into doing the federal government's job of immigration enforcement.' A spokesperson for the City of Portland and Mayor Keith Wilson declined to provide a comment. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell condemned Bondi's letter in an email to KOIN 6. 'Once again, the Trump Administration continues to target 'sanctuary cities' and perpetuate a narrative about our communities and laws that are furthest from the truth. Immigration enforcement is the exclusive responsibility of the federal government. The City neither interferes with nor carries out those federal duties. 'We have received and are reviewing the latest letter from Attorney General Bondi and strongly disagree with its assertions. Our laws and policies protect the safety, privacy and constitutional rights of all Seattle residents while remaining compliant with applicable law. 'We remain committed to our local values, including being a welcoming city for all. We will continue to defend our residents and our rights — and we will not hesitate to do so in court.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
‘Human crisis': Oregon joins lawsuit against Trump administration over $15M crime victim cuts
OREGON CITY, Ore. (KOIN) — The State of Oregon joined a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration's slashing of funds for the Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced the lawsuit on Monday. 'Betrayed': Gov. Kotek reacts to projected loss of $15B in federal funding A press conference took place on Monday afternoon with Rayfield and Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth, plus others. It can be viewed in the video player above. 'The Federal Administration is trying to use victims of crimes as a political tool to carry out an incredibly unpopular political agenda, and they are doing it in an unprecedented way,' Rayfield said. 'This lawsuit is about keeping shelters open for survivors of domestic violence, who need a safe space to sleep at night.' Oregon advocates warn of cuts to vital services for domestic, sexual abuse survivors The loss of the federal funding has thrown more than 100 agencies and organizations in the state into chaos. These organizations help victims of domestic violence, child abuse and sex trafficking. 'This is yet another attempt to place unlawful conditions on federal funds coming into Oregon to advance the President's unpopular agenda, this time at the expense of crime victims and survivors,' said Rayfield. 'These grants support services like the counselor who picks up the phone at 2 a.m., the shelter bed that keeps a mom and her kids safe tonight, or the advocate who walks a victim through the court process.' Clackamas County District Attorney said the victim cuts bring a 'human crisis' to the area. 'This is a fact. We are standing on the edge of a catastrophic failure of our duty to protect the most vulnerable in our community,' he said. 'If we don't act, we will pay the price.' 'It breaks my heart to experience the destruction of our system of safety and care,' added Melissa Erlbaum, the executive director of Clackamas Women's Services. Established more than 40 years ago, the Oregon AG's office says that more than 140 victim service providers rely on Victims of Crime Act (or VOCA) grants to provide critical services from shelters to camps for kids, victim advocates, and more. The AG's office says those organizations stand to lose more than $15 million under the new federal cuts next year. 'This is the money that keeps the lights on at domestic violence shelters,' Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth said. 'It pays for the specially trained advocates at child children's advocacy centers to provide a safe space for abused children to describe the unspeakable.' The attorney general's office said the federal government is KOIN 6 News will have more details as soon as possible. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
