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Minnesota advocates say federal funding freeze threatens victim services statewide
Summary
State lawmakers and service providers told a legislative briefing that a federal pause on victim-services funds has left shelters, hotlines and child advocacy programs facing layoffs, reduced services and possible closures without quick state action.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — State lawmakers and victim-service providers warned Tuesday that a federal pause on grants for crime victims has put Minnesota programs at immediate financial risk and could force program cuts, layoffs and service closures across the state.
Sen. Claire Umu Verbatin, DFL–District 66, who identified herself as the Senate author of a bill to increase state funding for victim services, said the suspension of federal funds has “cast a cloud over our progress” and called the situation “a crisis right now.” She said the funding supports “shelters, hotlines, legal assistance, counseling” that are “essential lifelines for survivors.”
The concern centers on multiple federal funding streams for victim services, including the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) and grants under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Kelly Mueller, a DFL state representative and chair of the House Public Safety Committee, said VOCA funding has been unstable in recent years and that Minnesota’s FY2024 VOCA grant represented a…
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