[in the news] Report reveals MA domestic violence services overwhelmed

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – A new report shows the demand for domestic violence services has climbed, but federal funding has not kept pace, and now local organizations are responding to this troubling shortfall.

Almost 900 requests for services such as emergency shelter and housing went unmet in a single day due to limited staffing and funding.

The “Domestic Violence Counts Report,” compiled by the National Network to End Domestic Violence, is based on a single-day survey conducted on Sept. 25. During that 24-hour period, Mass. agencies served more than 1,700 adults and children and handled nearly 600 hotline contacts. However, hundreds of requests for emergency assistance could not be met because of a lack of resources.

“Despite facing a cut from the legislature last year of $7 million, we’re able to have those funds restored for FY26, which was a huge relief to many survivors serving organizations. But that uncertainty continues, especially in the face of federal funding threats and cuts,” said Sarang-Sieminski. A couple of things are happening at the federal level. First, we have had a chronic diminishing of deposits to the Crime Victims fund, which funds something called VOCA funding, or Victims of Crime Act funding, for a lot of programs. That’s one of the mainstays of funding for survivor-serving programs, along with Department of Public Health funding. So what we see at this moment in time is that programs are facing shortfalls in that funding.”

“Try to regain their safety, their message, how they’re going to navigate life with their kids in the aftermath of harm, those factors really contribute to that high need,” said Hema Sarang-Sieminski, Executive Director of Jane Doe, Inc., the Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence.

Local organizations are looking for new strategies to address these shortfalls. In Holyoke, Alianza DV Services experienced this demand firsthand. The organization assisted 47 people in one week, which officials noted placed significant pressure on available resources.

Carmen Nieves, executive director of Alianza DV Services, said the lack of space often leaves staff with few options for those in danger. “They qualified for emergency placement, but they were denied because we have nowhere to place them,” Nieves said. “There was no bed space in the state, or we didn’t have the funds for a hotel or to send them a one-way ticket to a relative or friend.”

The reduction in available funds has forced Alianza to reduce its direct service staff. The organization receives federal funding through the Violence Against Women Act and HUD funds through the city of Springfield. Nieves noted that some of these funds have been impacted by litigation. Currently, we receive our funds from the Violence Against Women Act. That’s federal funding we receive through the city of Springfield, our S.O.S., which are HUD funds that we. So all of that has been tied up in lawsuits, and we’ve been okay, but we don’t know what’s going to happen. The next funding cycle,” Nieves said.

Not only that, but there’s also an executive order outlining the Department of Justice’s proposed use of the False Claims Act to investigate workplace DEI programs. “Alianza supports anything that is diversity, equity, and inclusion and accessibility to those we offer services to, those we hire, and how we’re able to respond to anything in any landscape. So that’s one of the concerns that we have that we will not be able to get a federal grant because we will be penalized if it is deemed that we are doing one of these activities,” she explained.

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DIGITAL EXTRA: Report reveals MA domestic violence services overwhelmed

Hema Sarang-Sieminski, executive director of Jane Doe Inc., said the complexity of the situations victims face drives the high demand for services. “Try to regain their safety, their message, how they’re going to navigate life with their kids in the aftermath of harm, those factors really contribute to that high need,” Sarang-Sieminski said.

The decrease in funds has also led them to reduce their direct service staff. “We can’t hire more folks without grants. And the only folks who have the grants are federally funded. And we can’t even go for those grants,” said Nieves.

Despite the financial and staffing difficulties, agencies continue to provide support through other channels. This includes assisting victims with obtaining restraining orders at Chicopee and Holyoke District Courts and operating hotlines for those in immediate need.

If you’d like to show your support for Alianza DV Services, they will be holding a fundraiser event on Saturday, September 26th, at the Ashley Reservoir in Holyoke. “We wouldn’t be able to do this work without our community supporting us as best they can,” said Nieves.

Organizations are monitoring the situation as they approach the next funding cycle. Individuals seeking help can contact the Alianza DV Services hotline at 413-536-1628.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WWLP. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat information into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WWLP staff before being published.