Community Solutions to Sexual and Domestic Violence: VIRGINIA

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ACTION ALLIANCE SUPPORTS HOUSE BILL 1 TO STREAMLINE FUNDING FOR CRISIS SERVICES

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA--The Virginia Sexual & Domestic Violence Action Alliance, Virginia’s leading voice on sexual and domestic violence, fully supports House Bill 1 (Co-sponsors: Delegate Barbara Comstock and Delegate Chris Peace), which would establish a Sexual and Domestic Violence Subfund at the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund (CICF). Senator Janet Howell and Senator Jill Holtzman Vogel are co-sponsoring companion legislation in the Senate.

The new Subfund will be a repository for existing and new funding, and is intended to streamline what is currently an inefficient and burdensome funding structure for Virginia’s 53 Sexual and Domestic Violence Crisis Centers.

Currently, Sexual and Domestic Violence Crisis Centers in Virginia submit as many as seven different funding applications to three state agencies to support their core services (e.g. emergency shelter, hotlines, emergency transportation, trauma counseling, and other crisis services).

“Streamlining funding through the CICF will result in increased efficiency, reduced duplication and relief of administrative burdens at the state and community agency levels,” said Kristi VanAudenhove, Executive Director of the Virginia Sexual & Domestic Violence Action Alliance.

Because victim services is central to CICF’s mission and work, CICF is the logical agency to administer sexual and domestic violence victim services funds. “Victims of sexual assault and domestic violence are better served by an efficient, streamlined funding system that prioritizes the needs of victims. More state and federal funding can go to crisis and support services if less is going to administration, “ said VanAudenhove.

“House Republicans have come together to make streamlining funding for Sexual and Domestic Violence Services their ‘No. 1’ issue for the upcoming General Assembly session, and we’ll be excited to see General Assembly members of both parties and in both the House and Senate join them in making this a priority”, said VanAudenhove. “We are grateful to Delegates Comstock and Peace and to Senators Howell and Vogel for their commitment to improve Virginia’s capacity to respond to the needs of victims of sexual and domestic violence.”