ANNAPOLIS, MD—More than 120 victim service programs across Maryland will receive a total of $60 million in federal and state funding, Governor Wes Moore has announced.
The grants, provided through the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), are administered by the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy. Governor Moore said the funding is a key part of his administration’s public safety strategy.
“As Maryland continues to see historic drops in violent crime, this funding reaffirms our commitment to building a stronger, safer state by investing in the programs that are best equipped to serve our communities,” Moore said.
The grants were awarded to programs that provide a wide range of services to victims, including crisis intervention, advocacy, counseling, and psychological support. According to the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy, its VOCA grants served nearly 40,000 new victims in the previous fiscal year.
The highly competitive funding round received requests for approximately $80 million from nearly 150 applicants. Nine new organizations received awards, including:
- Deaf Abused Women’s Network: Awarded $120,000 to provide specialized support for hearing-impaired women impacted by violence.
- Midshore Council on Family Violence: Received a $2 million grant for its Southern Maryland GIS Program, which uses geographic mapping to identify and address survivor needs on the Eastern Shore.
- Calvert Safe Housing Network: Granted $215,000 for emergency housing solutions for domestic violence survivors.
- ROCA Baltimore: Awarded $237,000 for its “After Shooting Protocol” to implement intervention services following shooting incidents.
“Through our VOCA grant we are able to provide essential services such as care coordination, referrals to additional support resources, and even childcare during sessions,” said April Rectanus, Director of the University of Maryland Baltimore Center for Families Care Clinic, which also received funding.
For a regional breakdown of GOCPP grantee services, award amounts, project descriptions, and contact information, visit the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy Interactive Grant Map.
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