SPOKANE, Wash. — Local victim advocacy groups are sounding the alarm as Washington legislators deal with massive budget shortfalls.
Nonprofits say $21.3 million is the bare minimum they need to continue helping communities statewide. Governor Ferguson’s budget only allocates $12 million — a 40 percent cut that could lead to fewer counselors and shelter beds to help survivors of abuse.
The cuts threaten other services too, like victim advocates in court and fewer people to take the calls for a 24/7 hotline for families in crisis.
“These are real services that survivors rely on,” said Janine Wynne of YWCA Spokane.
The YWCA, Lutheran Community Services, Mujeres in Action and Partners Family and Children served 23,000 families in 2025.
“When one of our services reduces some kind of essential service like that, it puts pressure on the rest of us,” said Erin Carden, Director of Advocacy & Education at Lutheran Community Services Northwest.
Carden has spent 18 years in victim advocacy and has never seen a more dire budget crisis.
“The plan B likely looks like a reduction in services,” said Carden.
“It’ll affect our ability to help them understand how to access services in order to leave those unsafe situations,” said Wynne.
State funding keeps the groups stable as federal and county grants continue to shrink.
“More than anything, we want people to call the representatives and ensure that victim services are fully funded this next year,” Carden said.
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