VOCA Bridge General Information
Free and potentially lifesaving services and programming for crime victims/survivors across Massachusetts are in jeopardy as a result of devastating cuts to federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding.
What is the VOCA Bridge? The VOCA Bridge is a multi-year state funding request to the Massachusetts Legislature to bridge ongoing cuts to VOCA-funded programs in order to help maintain free, critical victim services. To date, the Legislature has allocated $40 million of the total request to support the VOCA Bridge in Fiscal Years (FY) 23 and 24.
What is needed to finish the VOCA Bridge? MOVA, along with partners across the state, is actively advocating for an additional state investment of $20 million for FY25 to complete the VOCA bridge. This will help stabilize victim service programs in every county in Massachusetts and will support the continued access to free, high-quality, trauma-informed services, amid catastrophic reductions in federal funding.
VOCA Bridge Updates
May 2024
This legislative session, MOVA remains optimistic about securing the remaining $20 million for the VOCA Bridge through supplemental budget, H.4496, filed by the Healey-Driscoll Administration. MOVA’s advocacy remains focused on engagement with the House of Representatives and broadens to include the Senate after May 28th, when senate budget debate concludes.
Thank you to all the survivors, programs, and agencies, who have been instrumental in MOVA’s VOCA Bridge advocacy efforts thus far, and have expressed interest in participating in additional advocacy efforts after receiving their respective FY25 grant award notifications. MOVA is very grateful for the ongoing dedication of so many.
Opportunities for Engagement
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Learn how to engage by accessing the VOCA Bridge Digital Toolkit
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Share widely MOVA’s social media posts and/or emails about the #VOCABridge
Save the Dates
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Join us for the #VOCABridge Digital Week of Action from May 28th - May 31st.
Learn More
Should you have any questions regarding the VOCA Bridge or the digital advocacy toolkit, please do not hesitate to reach out to MOVA’s Policy & Legislative Affairs Specialists Isabelle Alera, isabelle.alera@mass.gov or Georgia Aguilar, georgia.m.aguilar@mass.gov