WASHINGTON 鈥� There鈥檚 a new resource for crime victims in D.C., but even as the city , one council member is concerned about the funding that supports victim services.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going through the budget process right now,鈥� said councilman Kenyan McDuffie, chairman of the council鈥檚 judiciary committee.
McDuffie, who was present at the hotline鈥檚 launch, pointed to the proposed cuts in Mayor Muriel Bowser鈥檚 proposed fiscal 2017 operating budget.
Bowser鈥檚 proposed budget suggests another $660,000 cut in grant funds and a $2.6 million sweep of the Crime Victim鈥檚 Assistance Fund.
鈥淭he crime victims assistance fund is a very important tool to make sure the funding and grants are getting to our advocates to make sure they can continue to support victims,鈥� McDuffie said.
McDuffie says last year there were several cuts in funding to victim鈥檚 services that he patched with an additional $2.2 million to .
That program funds agencies like Bread for the City, The DC Volunteer Lawyers Project and the DC Rape Crisis Center.
According to the , the city spends 35 percent of its budget, or $4.6 billion on Health and Human Services.
