Georgia Proposes $13 Million for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Survivor Services

The funding arrives as critical federal pandemic relief dollars are set to expire, leaving a gap for a central Georgia nonprofit.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 11:05pm

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A dimly lit interior space with muted colors and long shadows, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation and the importance of these support services.A serene yet somber scene captures the essential role of domestic violence and sexual assault support services in Georgia communities.Macon Today

The Georgia state budget has proposed over $13 million in funding for domestic violence and sexual assault survivor services across the state. This funding is crucial for organizations like Crisis Line and Safe House of Central Georgia, which operates a 12-bed shelter that runs at or near capacity for most of the year. The nonprofit provides a range of services for survivors, including emergency shelter, a crisis hotline, counseling, and legal advocacy. With the upcoming expiration of federal pandemic relief dollars, this new state funding will help sustain the organization's programs and services.

Why it matters

Domestic violence and sexual assault remain critical issues in Georgia, with data showing a 12% increase in family violence incidents statewide from 2023 to 2024. This funding will help ensure that organizations like Crisis Line and Safe House can continue providing essential support and resources to survivors in their communities.

The details

The proposed state budget includes over $9.4 million for family violence shelters and an additional $3.3 million for sexual assault centers across Georgia. For Crisis Line and Safe House of Central Georgia, this funding arrives at a crucial time as the organization faces the expiration of federal pandemic relief dollars that have been a key source of funding. Without this new state support, the nonprofit could have been forced to make difficult decisions about staffing and programming.

  • The Georgia state budget for fiscal year 2027 was recently approved by the state legislature and is now headed to the governor's desk for signature.
  • Federal pandemic-era American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding that has supported Crisis Line and Safe House is set to expire this year.

The players

Crisis Line and Safe House of Central Georgia

A nonprofit organization that serves survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault across seven counties in central Georgia, offering emergency shelter, a crisis hotline, counseling, legal advocacy, and other support services.

Jamie Borman

The executive director of Crisis Line and Safe House of Central Georgia.

Rieka Audain

The sexual assault advocacy manager at Crisis Line and Safe House of Central Georgia.

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What they’re saying

“With the upcoming expiration of ARPA funding, we were looking at a loss of funding. And so this will help to make sure that we can sustain our programs and our services 24 hours a day for those who need it.”

— Jamie Borman, Executive Director, Crisis Line and Safe House of Central Georgia

“A survivor's recovery does not end the day that incident happened. It follows them for years and years after that point. And so again, being able to work in this capacity is one of those things that we all take pride in — in being there for survivors.”

— Rieka Audain, Sexual Assault Advocacy Manager, Crisis Line and Safe House of Central Georgia

What’s next

Governor Brian Kemp is expected to sign the state budget bill containing the $13 million in funding for domestic violence and sexual assault survivor services.

The takeaway

This new state funding will help ensure that critical organizations like Crisis Line and Safe House of Central Georgia can continue providing essential support and resources to survivors in their communities, especially as they face the expiration of federal pandemic relief dollars that have been a lifeline.