Lawrence-Based Younity Could Lose Nearly $1M In Federal Crime Victim Funding

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin visited Younity, a Lawrenceville-based organization providing critical services to domestic and sexual violence victims, to highlight the devastating impact of potential federal funding cuts that could eliminate nearly $1 million in support for the agency.

Younity, which has supported over 1,800 crime victims, relies heavily on Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds that are now threatened by new Trump Administration conditions.

Last week, Attorney General Platkin joined a 21-state lawsuit challenging the federal government's attempts to tie VOCA funding to immigration enforcement priorities.

“Supporting victims of crimes should never be partisan, but the Trump Administration has made it clear that they intend to play politics with funding for organizations such as Younity,” Platkin said during Tuesday’s visit.

“Today’s visit and the opportunity to meet with advocates for crime victims, survivors, and other stakeholders was important to show the devastating impact that cutting Victims of Crime Act funds will have on our state and on some of our most vulnerable residents. We are going to keep fighting until these funds are no longer under threat and victims of crime are no longer at risk of losing access to the services that they need to recover.”

The Lawrenceville organization, formerly known as Womanspace Inc., has served as Mercer County's lead domestic and sexual violence agency since 1978. Beyond managing the statewide domestic violence hotline, Younity operates emergency shelters, county-based hotlines, counseling programs for adults and children, court advocacy services, transitional housing, and community education programs.

Nathalie Nelson, Younity's President and CEO, emphasized the life-saving nature of these services.

“VOCA funding is an essential resource that enables organizations like Younity to provide life-saving services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence. These funds support crisis intervention, counseling, safe housing, and advocacy. Services that are often the difference between safety and continued harm,” Nelson said.

“The recent federal restrictions place these critical programs at risk at a time when demand for support is at historic levels.”

Nelson criticized the administration's approach as discriminatory.

“Restricting access to language support, LGBTQIA+ services, or housing-first programs is not efficiency—it’s a judgment on who deserves help. When we defund or otherwise limit these services, we are really saying is that some victims simply don’t matter. That their lives don’t matter. And that is unconscionable,” Nelson said.

The Victims of Crime Act, enacted in 1984 under President Ronald Reagan, provides more than $1 billion annually nationwide to help states support nearly 9 million crime victims per year. The funding covers victim advocacy, emergency shelter, medical expenses, crime scene cleanup, sexual assault forensic exams, and victim compensation claims.

However, the Trump Administration now requires states to assist federal immigration enforcement efforts—traditionally a federal responsibility—as a condition for receiving VOCA funds.

Patricia Teffenhart, Director of the Division of Violence Intervention and Victim Assistance, called the policy change harmful to vulnerable populations.

“Twenty-four hours a day, three-hundred-sixty-five days a year, compassionate, dedicated colleagues provide services to help individuals begin their healing journey. And now, survivors who need our help are being revictimized by the reckless policy decisions being made by the Trump Administration. This isn’t political and it’s never been partisan," Teffenhart said.

The 21-state lawsuit seeks to permanently prevent the federal government from blocking VOCA funds based on immigration enforcement conditions. Currently, Younity operates four VOCA-funded initiatives and manages the statewide domestic violence hotline with additional support from Violence Against Women Act funding.

(Anyone needing help can visit www.njcasa.org or www.njcedv.org, or call 1-800-601-7200 or 1-800-572-SAFE (7233). All services are free and confidential)

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