REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MIKE KARBASSI, Council Vice President
District 2
BY: ALYSSA STEVENS, Chief of Staff
District 2
SUBJECT
Title
Approve Grant Agreement with Marjaree Mason Center (MMC) allocating $300,000 in funding for Domestic Violence Emergency Response and Safe Housing Programs
Body
RECOMMENDATION
To approve the allocation of $300,000 as identified in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget for the Marjaree Mason Center for domestic violence emergency response and safe housing programs
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In 1984, Congress established the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) to create a Crime Victims Fund (CVF) that supports services for victims of crimes, including domestic violence. Funded by penalties on federal offenders, VOCA grants are critical for local programs, especially as demand for services has surged due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, over the past decade, reductions in CVF funding have significantly impacted local communities like Fresno, where domestic violence service providers, such as the Marjaree Mason Center (MMC), have faced funding cuts of up to 45%. This has raised concerns about potential reductions in vital services.
To address this funding shortfall, a budget allocation of $300,000 was proposed from the city's General Fund to support MMC during Fiscal Year 2025. This decision, made amidst increasing calls for domestic violence services, was unanimously approved by the council. Additionally, two federal bills are in progress to restore VOCA funding, potentially providing up to $1.9 billion to help bridge the funding gap. However, delays in federal budget approval could complicate matters further, leaving local agencies at risk of service cuts as demand for assistance grows, especially following recent policy reaffirmations regarding homeless encampments.
BACKGROUND
In 1984, Congress passed the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) fund to create a Crime Victims Fund (CVF) that funds support services for victims of certain crimes, including domestic violence. These funds have historically been administered through grants to state and local programs that provide crime victim assistance. VOCA is funded solely through financial penalties assessed on individuals and entities who have committed federal crimes. VOCA-funded grants have become a customary and essential component of the budgets of local service providers, which have faced rising inflationary pressures and higher demand for services, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the past decade, Congress has taken a series of actions that have cumulatively resulted in dramatic reductions to the CVF balance. This has now trickled down to local communities like Fresno, resulting in sudden and unexpected funding reductions of VOCA grant funds for domestic violence service providers by as much as 45%. Failure to backfill this funding gap will likely cause a reduction in services by local providers.
MMC is the largest local service provider for victims of domestic violence, which mostly consists of women and children. MMC operates a 24/7 hotline and drop-in center through its Crisis Response Team (CRT), which is the initial point of contact for clients. The team provides assessments, determines client needs, and connects individuals to mobile Navigators who offer in-person support as needed. MMC’s services include emergency shelter, legal advocacy, counseling, longer-term housing, children's services, and linkages to social service programs. The organization also collaborates with law enforcement agencies and community-based organizations to coordinate crisis response, administer assessments, and offer safe housing.
MMC has made budget requests to the County of Fresno and other County cities. For a variety of reasons, such as population density and referrals from the Fresno Police Department, a supermajority of referrals come from within the City of Fresno.
During the Fiscal Year 2025 budget hearings, the issue of increased calls for service for domestic violence victims in the City of Fresno was raised. To prevent any service impacts to domestic violence victims in light of the loss of VOCA funding and the potential delays in federal and state action to restore VOCA funding, the City Council unanimously approved a budget motion to allocate $300,000 from the General Fund for MMC to backfill the shortfall in VOCA funding and account for potential future shortfalls in their allocation.
Two bills are making their way through Washington, D.C. to restore VOCA funding at the federal level, which will also assist in backfilling the previous fiscal year’s shortage. The House version will fund $1.5 billion, whereas the Senate version will fund $1.9 billion. If the Senate’s version was to pass, the funding gap would either have to be made up at the federal/state level, or by local agencies if we are to avoid cuts in services. There are no indications that the federal budget will be passed anytime soon now that Speaker Johnson’s efforts at achieving a budget deal have failed. It is likely headed to another Continuing Resolution, which does not alleviate the funding shortage.
Furthermore, in light of the Council’s recent action to reaffirm the City’s Unlawful Camping Ordinance it is reasonable to estimate that demand on service providers may increase.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, this item is not a project for the purposes of CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because this is not an agreement for materials, supplies, equipment or services.
FISCAL IMPACT
This action is funded with General Fund dollars allocated in the FY 2025 Annual Budget Motion #98 from the FY Budget Reconciliation Summary budgeted $300,000 for “Marjaree Mason sustained funding and essential services for domestic violence emergency response and safe housing programs. Allocation subject to adjustment based on proposed State of CA restoration of Victims of Crime Act funding.”
Attachment: Agreement