The Alliance Against Sexual Violence is voicing concerns as rape crisis programs in New York are facing federal and state cuts.
This comes as the organization is expanding its service statewide.
For more than two decades, the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault has worked at the intersection of prevention, research, policy change and education.
After 25 years, it’s now expanding and rebranding following its selection as New York state’s sexual violence coalition.
“There’s a rape crisis center in every county in New York state,” said Emily Miles, the executive director. “Recently, the Office of Victim Services released funding for the next two years, and rape crisis programs received a $5.2 million cut in funding.”
In a statement to Spectrum News 1, the Office of Victim Services said: “OVS received an unprecedented response to its 2026 request for applications (RFA) to fund victim assistance programs statewide: 316 applicants sought $626.1 million over two years, which exceeded the funding available by $499.6 million. Never in its history has OVS received that many applicants seeking that level of funding. Every RFA begins a new funding cycle. OVS cannot provide preferential treatment to currently funded programs or consider current funding when making award decisions. The incredible demand, the state’s competitive procurement process, and federal rules and funding uncertainty, required us to make difficult decisions. The $126.5 million to be awarded annually represents the single largest investment in victim services in the state’s history, allowing us to fund more programs and reach more New Yorkers in need.”
The Alliance said because of the cuts, some programs are considering restricting services.
“We represent the 14 rape crisis programs based in New York City, but we have programs on Long Island, we have them in the North Country, Rochester, Buffalo, the Southern Tier,” said Miles. “Literally, everywhere in New York state you will find a rape crisis program ready to serve survivors.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nationally, 45.1% of women and 16.9% of men experience sexual violence in their lifetime.
To put this in perspective, the total U.S. population is nearly 343 million people.
According to the Alliance, there are six million sexual violence survivors, both women and men, in New York, which make up about 32% of the state’s population.
The Alliance Against Sexual Violence Faces Challenges Amid Federal, State Funding Cuts As It Expands
