Domestic violence programs in Ohio are receiving five million dollars to help with providing care to their victims.

While officials are appreciative, they tell 21 News that they're still experiencing challenges.


"We feel great about the fact that the state legislature is acknowledging the importance of our member programs and their work," said Mary O'Doherty, Executive Director for the Ohio Domestic Violence Network. "But it doesn't solve the problem," she said.


The problem they continue to face is funding cuts.


"Our programs took a big hit with their VOCA funding, that's victims of crime act funding," O'Doherty said. "It's our most important federal funding source. That funding was cut by seven, our programs received cuts of 7.7 million dollars," she said.


O'doherty says the five million they've received does not make up for the seven million that was lost and will cause them to reduce the services they can offer. She tells 21 News they're expecting yet another funding cut in October.


"These cuts that we get only make a tough situation worse," O'Doherty said.


A few local domestic violence shelters have begun to cut staff in anticipation of the October cuts and it's affecting their other employees.


"We lost a case manager and we are trying to make sure that our services aren't effected," said Jennifer Gray, Social Services and development officer for Compass. "But that just means an overwhelming burden for the remaining staff to pick up those pieces," she said.


Gray says she's hopeful that VOCA will fix the funding issue to make it more stabilized within the next few years and in the meantime, she will try to keep the domestic violence programs running.