California cut life-saving crime victim services. In response, Fresno stepped up | Opinion

Annalisa Perea, Mike Karbassi
·2 min read

Fresno’s battle against domestic violence faced unprecedented funding challenges. But on Thursday, the Fresno City Council took decisive action by advancing a budget motion to allocate $300,000 to address funding shortfalls in domestic violence emergency response and safe housing programs. This decision was critical for maintaining life-saving services that the community desperately needed.

Recent federal cuts to crime victim services resulted in a 30% reduction in funding for programs across California, creating a $200 million shortfall. This reduction severely impacted services that provided essential support to survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking and vulnerable youth. The gravity of this situation could not be overstated. Without adequate funding, these programs — our community’s safety net — were at risk.

Opinion

Here in Fresno, the Marjaree Mason Center stands as a crucial resource, providing 24/7 crisis support and emergency shelter. However, funding for these vital services was already stretched thin, often relying on the generosity of the community’s philanthropic contributions. This reliance on charitable donations was not sustainable. It was necessary to ensure that crime victim services had secure financial backing to continue their essential work.

The impact of funding cuts was particularly severe for smaller programs, historically underserved communities and rural areas. Survivors faced reduced access to safe housing, longer wait times for counseling and diminished emergency support during their most vulnerable moments. This is unacceptable. Fresno has the highest per capita calls to law enforcement for domestic violence among California’s 10 most populated counties. Our community needs and deserves robust support systems for survivors to heal and rebuild their lives.

The City of Fresno had seen a troubling rise in domestic violence cases since the onset of the COVID pandemic, straining local resources and highlighting the urgent need for consistent funding. With domestic violence rates surging, organizations like the Marjaree Mason Center had been inundated with requests for assistance, from emergency shelter to legal support and counseling services.

The budget investment made was a necessary step to bridge the gap left by federal cuts, ensuring that local domestic violence survivor services could continue to operate at full capacity. While advocating for a permanent solution at the state and federal levels, it is our immediate responsibility to protect the most vulnerable members of the community.

We are grateful for the unanimous support of our fellow council colleagues, the mayor and the community for this crucial budget allocation. This unified action will send a powerful message that the City of Fresno is committed to ensuring domestic violence survivors receive the support they need to recover and thrive. By stepping up to address this funding gap, we reaffirm our dedication to protecting and uplifting the community.

Fresno continues to lead the way in showing that we will not abandon those who need us. Now is the time to secure a safer, more supportive future for everyone in our city.

Annalisa Perea is president and Mike Karbassi is vice president of the Fresno City Council.