FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 9, 2025

Press Contacts:

Danah Vasquez, Communications Coordinator: dvasquez@valor.org, (323) 719-9301 

Megan Tanahashi, Strategic Communications Analyst: megan@cpedv.org, (916) 800-4856

SACRAMENTO, CA – The Joint Legislative Budget plan proposed by the California Legislature today allocated $100 million for victims’ services, allowing programs that serve survivors of violence to continue providing life-saving services for another year. If approved by Governor Newsom, these funds will ensure access to emergency housing for domestic violence survivors, mental health services for survivors in crisis, forensic exams for survivors of sexual assault, and more.

Grace Glaser, of ValorUS® and the California VOCA Advocacy Alliance, issued the following statement: 

“We call on Governor Newsom to approve the $100 million proposed by the Assembly and Senate to maintain funding for victims’ services this year. We are grateful to the Legislature, especially our champions Senator Reyes and Assemblymember Schiavo, for prioritizing this critical funding and for their clear statement that California should not balance its budget on the backs of survivors! 

In 2021 and 2022, 816,000 Californians relied on the services provided by this crucial funding. These are not luxuries, they are lifelines.

Alongside more than 250 organizations across all counties in the state, we urge the Governor to approve this plan and protect some of the most vulnerable Californians.”

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About the California VOCA Alliance

The California VOCA Advocacy Alliance represents over 200 organizations that hundreds of thousands of California victims and survivors depend on each year. Our large coalition works to advance the rights of survivors of human trafficking, child abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, and others. We are dedicated to supporting survivors, advocates and communities, and have a common goal of advocating for equitable access to core services.