Funding shortfall,
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victim service agencies in the state. So there are a number of victim service providers like PDC and others that are not going to get that full $250,000 per year allocation,” explained Schulz.
“So the actual dollar amount we will receive, at this point, is unknown. I know we will be applying for that full $250,000. If successful, that’s $350,000 less that we will be receiving starting Oct. 1.”
Between the reduction in DCF funding and VOCA funding, PDC is facing a $450,000 loss in annual revenue, at minimum.
Schulz said the agency has been looking for alternative funding sources, including local and regional grant opportunities, but recognizes the gravity of the situation unless something majorly changes.
“There are ways we can get creative and find other sources of revenue to help backfill, but there really isn’t anything that can make up for that significant of a loss in revenue,” she said.
“There’s been some recent developments. There’s been new legislation that Gov. (Tony) Evers has signed into law that has increased the level of funding for victim services providers and child advocacy services. And that money is going to be distributed through the DOJ. So that is definitely a success and will certainly help. But what that actually means and how we go about accessing it, we don’t know at this point. We do know that the amount of money is, although very beneficial, it’s not going to come close to covering the loss of what we’re experiencing from VOCA.”
When it comes to the need for funding, “we’re still in a pretty critical place,” Schulz concluded.
She said PDC certainly is not alone in this situation, and people should anticipate that the services available to victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault and trafficking could look very different by the end of this year, and even more so at the start of next year.
“If we’re not able to find ways to make up that loss in revenue, it will likely result in a loss of programming and services, and a reduction of staff,” said Schulz. “So we’ve had to have those hard conversations with staff and we’re all aware of the work laid out in front of us and how critical of a time this is.”
Schulz urged the public to contact their legislators at the state and federal level, and let them know how important victim service providers are to the wellbeing of the community and of the pressing need to replenish funding. Schulz also encouraged individuals to check out End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin (EndAbuseWI.org) and the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault (wcasa.org), two statewide coalitions that advocate and lobby for victim services agencies at the state and federal level.
“It’s alarming when you see the number of people in need and the ones that we’re able to serve every year, and those numbers just keep increasing each year… It’s even more alarming when we keep seeing the increase in need and know that we are facing a situation where we may have to make decisions about what programs and services we’ll no longer be able to provide.
“We see what the need is and how many people have benefitted from services, and how many children we’ve been able to keep safe because of the services we are able to provide, and if we have to back away from providing those, there’s going to be people that are not going to have their needs met and they’re not going to be able to find safety for themselves and their kids.”
Fundraiser PDC plans to continue to outreach to the community and seek individual and business donations to support the work that it does. The agency plans to host its second annual “Kick Out Domestic Abuse Family Fun Day” at the Granton Community Park on May 18 as a fundraiser. The event will include kickball and cornhole tournaments, raffle baskets, food, bouncy houses, a DJ and more. For more information or to sign up a team, go to pdcmarshfield.org or call 715-384-2971.
