Historic regional alliance: Victim Services Partnership

NORTHEAST WIS. – Following federal budget cuts on non-profit victim advocacy services in Wisconsin, seven area frontline victim service providers have launched the Victim Services Partnership (VSP), a regional alliance to support the safety and recovery of survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse, among other crimes.

Prior to the cuts, agencies collaborated on individual client needs and had Victims of Crimes Act (VOCA) grants for funding. Now, they find themselves prioritizing sustaining existing services, with reduced funding affecting emergency financial assistance, shelter maintenance and safety measures like security cameras and alarms.

Wisconsin’s annual VOCA funding has declined from $44.5M to roughly $13M.

The Victim Services Partnership hopes to raise $3M in three years to help bridge the gap left by those funding cuts, allowing organizations to maintain services and support survivors. Members include the Violence Intervention Project of Algoma, the Brown County Victim Witness Office, Family Services of Northeast Wis., Golden House, Rainbow House, We All Rise: African American Resource Center and Wise Women Gathering Place. The collaboration between these organizations aims to streamline community support and fundraising, using an equity-based distribution model which can be found at www.givevsp.org/pdf/VSP_Equity_Funding_Distrbution.pdf.

Holli Fisher, director of the Family Services of Northeast Wis. and VSP spokesperson, said the distribution of the funding considers several factors, like whether organizations provide 24/7 services, are in a rural area or provide culturally-specific services. Ninety-nine percent of the funds raised each month will be distributed based on that model. The last 1% of funds raised will be maintained as reserves and to cover the administrative fees of the fund.

Budget cuts have been especially difficult for rural organizations like the Violence Intervention Project (VIP), based in Algoma. VIP Executive Director Laura Giddley said the agency has had to cut its staff from nine to four, leaving the project struggling to maintain the same services it has been able to provide in the past, with one of the most impacted areas being emergency victim funds.

“Both the collaborative effort and the sharing of resources is absolutely paramount to the budget cuts that were that we’re facing,” she said.

Fisher said before the reduction in funding, the different organizations had fewer interactions.

“Prior to the funding cuts, we would collaborate in terms of individual client needs, like if we had a sexual assault victim who needed emergency shelter due to safety concerns, we would coordinate that,” Fisher said.

Now, the different organizations work together more closely.

“Agencies that often compete for limited funding — including culturally specific and rural-based organizations — have come together to chart a shared response,” Fisher said.

Each agency will maintain its own services, but the partnership provides more than funding.

“I really feel that this collaboration has brought us together as victim service providers in a different capacity. This is a unique opportunity for us to create a different form of allyship and awareness,” Giddley said. “I think that camaraderie — these other agencies know what I’m experiencing as an organization, so I think that supportive piece makes this feel less alone.”

VSP remains committed to supporting survivors, regardless of their financial situation, and asks the community to help them in this endeavor as they lose funding. Donations can be given via the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, which is assisting VSP in linking their agencies and sharing funds equitably.

If you are in an unsafe situation, visit www.vipadvocates.net or contact VIP’s 24 Hour Help Line at 877-847-3223 for assistance. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-7233.