Governor Kathy Hochul recently disclosed a historic commitment of almost $379.5 million in federal and state resources spanning over the next three years. This commitment is aimed at bolstering programs and services designed to aid victims of crimes and their families. This unprecedented funding distribution is officiated by the state’s Office of Victim Services (OVS), bolstered by a $100 million state funding that Hochul secured. The aim was to compensate for decreases in federal assistance.
The funding mechanism saw the OVS awarding grants to a total of 230 nonprofit entities, hospitals, and official agencies. These funds are to uphold victim assistance programs across the state providing a range of services such as crisis counseling, therapy, emergency housing, civil legal aid, case management, advocacy, and more. The services these programs provide are free of charge and available to victims and survivors from the immediate aftermath of a crime and for however long they require aid to recover and flourish again.
Distribution of funds even included local initiatives: Catholic Charities of Schoharie County received $129,537; Opportunities for Otsego was allocated $375,138; and Delaware Opportunities obtained $353,103. Governor Hochul expressed, ‘Securing the safety of New Yorkers is my foremost responsibility. I’m fully dedicated to guaranteeing that resources and tools vital to preventing and solving crimes are accessible to our law enforcement and community collaborators. Furthermore, it is essential to ensure that those affected by crimes have convenient access to needed support.’
The regulatory guidelines require the OVS to primarily allocate funds to victims of child maltreatment, domestic abuse, and sexual aggression, as well as to serve populations that historically have been underserved. Nearly half of the total funding, approximately 49 percent, has been directed towards programs that aid survivors of domestic violence. 22 percent has been dedicated to programs specifically targeting underserved communities. Programs aiding child abuse victims received around 15 percent of the funds and sexual assault incident-handling services retained about 14 percent.
To reduce disparities in crime victim assistance, OVS is committed to ensuring accessibility to programs throughout the state’s ten regions and to sealing the service deficits for gun violence victims. Over $21 million was allocated to programs supporting individuals, families, and communities disproportionately struck by gun violence during the three-year grant cycle.
Bea Hanson, the Director of State Office of Victim Services, commended the allocation, stating, ‘The record-high funding will help guarantee constant support for victims and survivors, while enhancing access to services, and focusing specifically on those communities most affected by violence. We are grateful to Governor Hochul for her unwavering dedication to maintaining New York’s position as a leading force in victim services at the national level.’
The FY26 Enacted Budget accommodates additional weighty investments aimed at better serving victims and survivors. This includes the establishment of a Mass Violence Crisis Response Team, incremented reimbursement for victims of financial scams to $2,500, and the widening of benefits to those touched by homicide.
Additionally, the budget ensures all survivors of sexual assault receive an adequate course of anti-HIV medication. It is a part of the state’s initiative to reinforce support for survivors of gender-based violence, by guaranteeing access to public assistance for victims and codifying effective gender-based violence workplace policy.
The budget endorses a gender-based violence workplace policy for vendors who are conducting business with New York state. This policy requirement insists that vendors affirm their commitment to a gender-based violence workplace policy, thereby enforcing a safer working environment for all, especially those most susceptible to such violence.
This stance by the state government is indicative of the commitment to ensure no one who has become a victim or a survivor of a crime feels unsupported or neglected. This historic investment serves as a testament to the state’s devotion to do right by its citizens, aiding them in any possible way in times of need.
Governor Hochul’s efforts in securing a significant portion of the funding signal her commitment to the cause. These funds may have covered a shortfall in federal aid, ensuring that help reaches every corner of the state, reinforcing the belief that everyone matters and everyone is entitled to assistance and justice.
As crime cannot be eradicated overnight, victim support services are of the utmost importance in helping survivors reclaim their lives. They assist survivors in navigating legal systems, give them access to psychological support, provide emergency shelter and protect the most vulnerable in society.
In taking these comprehensive measures, the government of New York state exemplifies its determination to not only protect its citizens, but also to provide them with ready and effective support after they have suffered due to crime. The initiative puts New York state at the forefront of a national movement calling for better support systems for survivors of crime.