New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin visited Younity, a Lawrenceville-based organization providing services to victims of domestic and sexual violence. The visit comes as Younity faces uncertainty over nearly $1 million in funding from the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), due to recent policy changes by the Trump Administration.
Attorney General Platkin recently announced that New Jersey has joined 20 other states in a lawsuit challenging new conditions placed on VOCA funds. The Trump Administration now requires states to support federal immigration enforcement efforts in order to receive these funds, a responsibility traditionally handled at the federal level.
“Supporting victims of crimes should never be partisan, but the Trump Administration has made it clear that they intend to play politics with funding for organizations such as Younity,” said Attorney General Platkin. “Today’s visit and the opportunity to meet with advocates for crime victims, survivors, and other stakeholders was important to show the devastating impact that cutting Victims of Crime Act funds will have on our state and on some of our most vulnerable residents. We are going to keep fighting until these funds are no longer under threat and victims of crime are no longer at risk of losing access to the services that they need to recover.”
Patrica Teffenhart, Director of the Division of Violence Intervention and Victim Assistance, commented on how vital organizations like Younity are for those who have experienced trauma: “Access to the free and confidential services offered by organizations like Younity are a literal lifeline for individuals who have experienced unthinkable trauma. Twenty-four hours a day, three-hundred-sixty-five days a year, compassionate, dedicated colleagues provide services to help individuals begin their healing journey. And now, survivors who need our help are being revictimized by the reckless policy decisions being made by the Trump Administration. This isn’t political and it’s never been partisan. We will continue to support our network of providers in whatever ways possible to ensure that our communities have access to the services they need.”
Nathalie Nelson, President and CEO of Younity, described VOCA funding as crucial for providing crisis intervention, counseling, safe housing, and advocacy: “VOCA funding is an essential resource that enables organizations like Younity to provide life-saving services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence. These funds support crisis intervention, counseling, safe housing, and advocacy. Services that are often the difference between safety and continued harm. The recent federal restrictions place these critical programs at risk at a time when demand for support is at historic levels,” said Nelson. “Restricting access to language support, LGBTQIA+ services, or housing-first programs is not efficiency—it’s a judgment on who deserves help. When we defund or otherwise limit these services, we are really saying is that some victims simply don’t matter. That their lives don’t matter. And that is unconscionable.”
The Victims of Crime Act was established in 1984 during President Ronald Reagan’s administration as a way for states across America—including New Jersey—to fund essential victim assistance programs through grants totaling more than $1 billion annually nationwide (https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/voca-administrators/overview). These grants allow states each year to assist nearly 9 million crime victims and pay out compensation claims numbering over 200,000 per year (https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/252968.pdf). Congress determines how almost all VOCA money gets distributed among states based on fixed formulas.
Younity operates several initiatives funded by VOCA grants; it also runs Mercer County’s lead agency addressing domestic violence issues since its founding in 1978 under its previous name Womanspace Inc., manages hotlines including one statewide line supported partly through Violence Against Women Act dollars.
For those seeking help from domestic or sexual violence situations in New Jersey: call 1-800-601-7200 or 1-800-572-SAFE (7233) for free confidential assistance.
