This story was originally reported by Jasmine Mithani and Mariel Padilla of The 19th, and republished through Rewire News Group‘s partnership with the 19th News Network.

Our Sister’s House used to staff a 24-hour hotline. No matter what time of day a domestic violence survivor called for help, an advocate would be able to help them stay safe. But then a lack of funding meant that hours and staff had to be reduced. Now if someone calls for help overnight or on the weekend, no one picks up the phone.

The organization has been focused on helping Black survivors of gender-based violence for 30 years. But now many critical services it has provided in Pierce County, Washington—which has one of the highest rates of domestic violence in the state—have been pared back due to delays in federal grant funds. 

Our Sister’s House is waiting to hear back about an application for money that should have been distributed by October 1—eight months ago. 

The lapse comes as the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women withholds $150 million in taxpayer dollars meant to be distributed in fiscal 2025 to help survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and trafficking. 

The 19th reached out to over 250 organizations and municipalities that had previously received funding from the Office on Violence Against Women to ask how the delay in fiscal 2025 funds and the stalling of fiscal 2026 grant applications has impacted them. The 48 that responded shared stories of layoffs, diminished services for survivors and sacrifices among advocates, who have taken voluntary pay cuts to make sure survivors get the life-saving support they need. 

The vast majority of organizations did not want to speak on the record for fear of retaliation from the administration. 

The Office on Violence Against Women has distributed $50 million in grants since The 19th reported April 9 that over $200 million in 2025 appropriations had yet to be disbursed. But $150 million is still unaccounted for. Gender-based violence........

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