Press Release  MOVA and the Victim and Witness Assistance Board Announce Reduced Grants Due to Federal Funding Shortfall; Highlights Need for State Investment in VOCA Bridge

BOSTON, MA., May 2, 2024 — Following a vote by the Victim and Witness Assistance Board (VWAB) at their board meeting on May 01, the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA) announced that it will award federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding to 94 victim service agencies across the Commonwealth to provide free, direct services to crime victims in Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25).

The Victim and Witness Assistance Board (VWAB), MOVA’s governing body, voted to approve two different funding scenarios, dependent on the availability of state VOCA Bridge funding.

The VOCA Bridge is a funding request to the Massachusetts legislature to supplement the significant shortfall in federal assistance dollars. To date, the Massachusetts legislature has funded $40M of the VOCA Bridge in FY23 and FY24. The legislature’s commitment to supporting the VOCA Bridge has provided a critical lifeline for victims. In FY23, MOVA-funded programs supported over 94,000 victims across the state. Of those victims, the VOCA Bridge supported 34,826 survivors who may not have otherwise had access to services.

MOVA and victim service providers across the Commonwealth continue to advocate to the Legislature for an additional $20M investment to support programming in FY25. A fully funded VOCA Bridge will help MOVA to sustain access to these impactful, life-changing programs for those impacted by crime throughout the Commonwealth.

Without a state funding commitment in FY25, funded agencies will face an average 15% reduction from current funding levels, beginning on July 1, 2024. However, should the state approve the remaining $20M in VOCA Bridge funding for FY25, agencies will instead see a 4% reduction from current funding levels, avoiding greater, more catastrophic cuts to service providers.

All currently funded agencies were eligible to apply to MOVA’s FY25 grant cycle. As part of its grant review, MOVA considered: geographic location(s); services to culturally specific populations; service type; federal reporting requirements; award size; and overall grant compliance. While the primary focus of funding remained on maintaining personnel where possible, MOVA anticipates these reductions will impact service delivery and full-time staff positions throughout the Commonwealth.

 “Despite a significant reduction in federal funding for victim services, the needs of crime victims have continued to increase,” said MOVA’s Executive Director, Liam Lowney. “Victim service providers across Massachusetts have gone above and beyond to continue to meet this quickly increasing demand, making it extremely difficult for MOVA to have to continue to reduce grant awards. We are optimistic that we will be able to minimize the loss in services and jobs with support from the state legislature,” shared Lowney.

For more information about the Victim and Witness Assistance Board or the VOCA Bridge, please visit www.mass.gov/mova.

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