LEXINGTON, Ky. — Changes are underway for domestic and sexual violence advocacy groups who have or planned on applying for federal transitional housing grants.
Along with President Donald Trump’s first round of executive orders, the Office of Management and Budget has placed a temporary pause on some federal grant and loan disbursement programs.
While a temporary court order has challenged the pause, it is still in effect and left concerns for those helping. Now, domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking victims, and other survivor groups around the country could face financial burdens.
Despite concerns, “continuing to build” is the unwritten theme for the Ampersand Sexual Violence Resource Center of the Bluegrass this year.
The organization supports survivors, provides legal advocacy, medical resources, crisis counseling intervention, group therapy, prevention education and more.
Interim director, Dr. Amy Cappiccie said they also help with short-term stays and living arrangements with groups like Greenhouse 17—a organization that helps the abused.
“Part of that reason can be that it is so dangerous to leave that IPV or intimate partner violence relationship you’re more likely to experience death right after leaving,” Cappiccie said. Changes to a grant like transitional housing assistance for victims of sexual, domestic, and intimate partner violence could be critical.
Cappiccie added, “For example, an individual gets a vine notification that their perpetrator is no longer housed in a local detention center or a jail. And if the assault occurred in their home or near their home and the perpetrator knows where they live. Of course, you can imagine how scary that would be if you get the notification that they’re out on the street again.”
On Jan. 27, at the top of the U.S. Office of Violence against Women website, a small notice said, “funding opportunity has been withdrawn” for 2025 and to “not finalize any applications started under it.”
Cappiccie said while they don’t use this program, other federal funds have been important to their work in the past. It’s why staying the course for growth and inviting supporters to get involved are a few of their solutions.
“Depending on what happens and how many federal grants could be changed, reduced or stopped, we will need to depend on our local community to step up,” Cappuccino said. Adding they want to work closely with the community to show how their support will make the difference.
The sexual violence resource center helps in 17 counties across the state offers a 24/7 crisis call line and is currently looking to expand to more rural areas.