Alliance for Safety and Justice Applauds Bipartisan Michigan Budget that Strengthens Support for Crime Victims

LANSING, MI – Public safety advocates, crime survivors and their families applaud the Michigan legislature for investing in safer communities and prioritizing crime victims as part of the state’s bipartisan FY26 budget.

The budget includes $35 million to help offset the shortfall in Michigan’s Crime Victim’s Rights Fund and stabilize services impacted by federal cuts to the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), as well as $2 million to sustain the Henry Ford Health Trauma Recovery Center (TRC) in Detroit for another year.

“Alliance for Safety and Justice in partnership with Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, urged lawmakers in both the House and the Senate to increase funding to Community Violence Intervention and the Victim Rights Fund to levels that will make a difference in people’s lives,” said Harvey Santana, Michigan State Director for the Alliance for Safety and Justice. “We’re grateful to lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for recognizing that true public safety means investing in healing and stability for those harmed by violence.”

Since launching last year, the Henry Ford Health Trauma Recovery Center has offered essential, evidence-based services to assist survivors in rebuilding their lives.

• Nearly 200 survivors served through 176 referrals in the first year.
• No-show rates around 20%, significantly lower than traditional mental health services.
• Services provided across multiple settings — at the TRC clinic, in hospitals, virtually, and even in survivors’ homes.
• Among those completing treatment, 90% showed decreased depression and PTSD symptoms, and all who completed surveys said they would “highly recommend” the program to others.
• The TRC also provides practical assistance such as distributing gun locks, paying for relocation and legal safety costs, and offering transportation, groceries, and bereavement support to survivors.

“These funds ensure that survivors of violence in Detroit and across the state have access to the trauma recovery and practical support they need to heal,” Santana added. “This is what it looks like when we invest in safety and recovery instead of cycles of harm.”

The Alliance for Safety and Justice is a national organization that partners with state leaders, advocates, and survivors to advance smart safety policies and build stronger, safer communities.