During Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Victim Service Providers Fight Funding Cuts
Iowa organizations that provide services to victims of sexual violence say they face potential funding cuts at the state and federal levels.
A cut to state funding for victim services is being discussed as a way to help make up for a budget deficit. Federal funding decreases may come as part of proposed budget reductions at the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Executive Director Adam Robinson of the Rape Victim Advocacy Program (RVAP) in Iowa City said these cuts would be catastrophic for victim services.
āIn addition to sexual assault centers like ours, our partner centers and sister centers throughout the state that provide support and advocacy and prevention for survivors of domestic violence, as well as shelter services, are all right now facing a potential threat,ā Robinson said.