04-05-2025
Oregon advocates warn of cuts to vital services for domestic, sexual abuse survivors
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Local advocacy organizations are sounding the alarm over concerns of potential funding cuts to services which help survivors of domestic and sexual abuse in Oregon.
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.
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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.
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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.
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