Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has allocated over $13 million to fortify local nonprofits reeling from a substantial cut in federal aid. The slash in funding, amounting to nearly $20 million, had put crucial services like legal aid, medical bill assistance, and counseling for crime victims on the brink of collapse.
That’s when the state stepped forward to bridge the gap, ensuring organizations like the Atlanta-based Crime Victims Advocacy Council (CVAC) can continue their work.
Struggling to cope with the drastic federal budget reductions, CVAC’s executive director Brooks Hunnicut detailed to FOX 5 Atlanta the organization’s dire situation, saying, “If they call us, we’re going to be there for them and do everything we can,” and Hunnicut speaks from personal experience, for she too once woke up to an attacker’s knife at her throat in her first Atlanta apartment; the funds granted by Kemp’s office, totaling $3.2 million for the state-run Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, are a critical lifeline for such organizations that provides more than just the redressal of wounds but also the strength for victims to stand back up and fight after their harrowing experiences.
Victim advocates have been overt in expressing how the financial cuts have heightened their anxieties and challenges, affirming the perennial concern of year-to-year budget unpredictability.
According to Yahoo News, Hunnicut reflected on the gravity of the situation, stating, “We live from year to year worrying about cuts, but this year is the worst, most devastating ever seen in 20 years.”
Hunnicut, grateful for the chance to persevere and aid others in need, told Yahoo News, “I’m grateful to know what I know, and I’m grateful I didn’t kill myself, and I’m grateful that I have the tools to help people,” indicating both a personal journey of resilience and a professional commitment to communal healing. While these new funds are a beacon of hope for her organization, Hunnicut acknowledges more work lies ahead as they navigate the process to qualify for this grant money, as Georgia’s nonprofit landscape remains fraught with issues of sustainability and resource allocation amid ever-changing fiscal currents.
Source: Hoodline
