New York State’s Rape Crisis Centers are calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to restore millions in funding cuts they say will leave sexual assault survivors — including children — without critical services.
“It breaks my heart,” said Karen Hermita of the Kingsbridge Community Center in the Bronx, one of dozens of Rape Crisis Centers alerted by the Hochul administration in July that they will lose federal grant money they relied on in the past. The federal dollars — intended for crime victims — are divvied up by the New York State Office of Victims Services in a competitive process every three years.
Hermita is one of the specially trained, certified Crisis Advocates on call 24/7 to respond to sexual assault survivors in need. She told NBC New York she’s worried the cut will mean delays in helping rape survivors who can be reluctant to call for help…