Previously Published in The Messenger
By Raheem Soto
A significant reduction in Suffolk County’s 2025 operating budget has led to an $800,000 cut in funding allocated for domestic violence services. Approved by the Suffolk County Legislature earlier this year, the reduction coincides with a broader funding crisis caused by the nationwide shortfall in the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant program. Combined, these developments have placed increased pressure on community-based organizations to provide resources and assistance without relying on public funding.
In response, Angels of Long Island, Inc., is organizing a grassroots fundraiser to support its Stand-Up and Voice Empowerment (S.A.V.E.) initiative. The event, set for June 1 at the 89 North Music Venue in Patchogue, offers brunch, televised horse racing, raffles, and a cash bar. The $40 admission includes a buffet with breakfast and lunch items such as French toast, sausage, penne ala vodka, muffins, and chicken cutlets. The event runs from 12:00p.m. to 4:00p.m.
The fundraiser is designed to raise private dollars in light of ongoing funding gaps. VOCA funds, historically distributed to states and passed on to local victim service providers, have seen a decline due to reduced deposits into the federal Crime Victims Fund. This has impacted nonprofits throughout New York State, including Brighter Tomorrows, Long Island Against Domestic Violence (LIADV), and ECLI-VIBES. Many of these organizations rely on VOCA to finance counseling, emergency shelter, legal advocacy, and case management. With both federal and county revenue sources constricting, these services are being scaled back.
Some providers report staffing reductions, elimination of key roles, and temporary pauses on intake for housing and legal support programs. Suffolk County’s budget cut, while one line item among many, arrives at a time when demand for support services remains high. Reports from state agencies suggest that calls to domestic violence hotlines and requests for shelter beds have not decreased.
In Albany, state officials have attempted to mitigate the crisis through programs such as the Survivors Access Financial Empowerment (SAFE) initiative, which provides flexible financial support to victims in need of transportation, housing assistance, or legal services. A separate $35 million statewide public safety initiative was announced earlier this year to support domestic violence prevention efforts, including law enforcement training and systemwide improvements. However, these programs are not intended to fully replace lost VOCA dollars and do not directly restore the county-level funds removed in Suffolk.
In the meantime, local efforts such as the S.A.V.E. fundraiser are becoming increasingly essential. Angels of Long Island, founded on the principle of “neighbors helping neighbors,” continues to provide emergency food, clothing, and resource navigation to vulnerable populations, including those affected by domestic violence. The June 1 event is one of several fundraising efforts planned in 2025 to ensure continuity of service.
Event Details:
- What: S.A.V.E. – Stand-Up and Voice Empowerment Fundraiser
- When: Sunday, June 1, 2025 | 12:00p.m. – 4:00p.m.
- Where: 89 North Music Venue, 89 North Ocean Avenue, Patchogue
- Admission: $40 per person (includes brunch, entertainment, and raffles)
- Contact: 631-803-6775 | angelsoflongisland@outlook.com
In the absence of public reinvestment, the burden of support continues to shift toward private individuals and nonprofit groups. Whether such efforts can sustain long-term operations remains to be seen.