(The Center Square) - Iowa is using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to supplement state funding for crime victims after losing $5.4 million in federal funding.
The loss is about 42% of the state's funding from the Victim of Crimes Act, Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a news release.
Iowa received $13.9 million from VOCA in fiscal year 2023 for the state's Iowa Attorney General’s Victim Assistance Grant Program, according to the news release. The entire grant program is $22.6 million.
More than 50 nonprofit organizations serving crime victims received funding in FY 2023, according to Reynolds's office.
“Without adequate federal funding, states have two options: reduce victim services or find a way to cover the gap,” Reynolds said. “Victims of crime deserve our full support of their recovery, and we will continue to ensure they have the services they need in Iowa.”
The cuts would have shifted the funding burden to the state's 99 counties, Attorney General Brenna Bird said.
"As a prosecutor, I work with victims and see the devastating reality of losing victim services. And spreading providers thin by making them do a lot with limited resources,” Bird said. “With the looming federal cut to victim funding, states would be forced to reduce services to rural and small counties, deprive victims of 24/7 care such as a victims hotline, and eliminate options for in-person services, including victim-witness coordinators."
More than 54,404 Iowans received victim's services in FY 2023, according to Reynolds.
VOCA is the primary funding source of victim services in all states and the cumulative cut was $700 million, according to Reynolds.
The money came from Iowa’s State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, which is part of the ARPA funds the state received, according to the news release.
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