HomeAid Supports Victims of Crimes Act and new Funding Strategies
In 1984, Congress passed the Victims of Crimes Act (VOCA) and established the Crime Victims Fund (CVF) to provide federal support for victim assistance and compensation programs nationwide.
VOCA currently operates without taxpayer funding, relying instead on fines and penalties from convictions in federal cases, as well as gifts, donations, and bequests by private parties. Since 2019, annual VOCA funds have decreased, to address this issue Congress passed the VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021 (VOCA Fix), introducing a new revenue source by directing monetary penalties from federal deferred prosecution and non-prosecution agreements to the CVF. As a result of the VOCA Fix, the CVF’s balance now exceeds $1.4 billion as of March 2024.
While the VOCA Fix has alleviated some funding declines, more action is needed to ensure continued support for victims of crimes nationwide. President Biden has included a request for $7.3 billion in his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2025. Approving this request would guarantee that VOCA and CVF have the funds needed to support thousands of victim services providers and millions of victims next year.
These funds are critical to support HomeAid Care Providers that council and house our neighbors leaving dangerous living situations to rebuild their lives in a safe environment without violence. To support HomeAid or get involved in a project please contact Crisand Giles for more information.
