As Peaceful Paths approaches its 50th anniversary, the nonprofit has asked for community support as it faces an annual funding loss of $1 million from its largest funding source. 

Peaceful Paths is the certified domestic abuse services center for Alachua, Bradford and Union counties, helping survivors relocate, get counseling and start new lives. Because of its work, Peaceful Paths, a nonprofit, operates with funds from the federal Victims of Crime Act Fund (VOCA).  

But, the federal Department of Justice has sent $40 million less for Florida’s Office of the Attorney General to then send to local organizations like Peaceful Paths, Three River Legal Services, the Child Advocacy Center and even law enforcement departments.  

The reduced annual funding came on Oct. 1—the start of the federal fiscal year. Dr. Theresa Beachy, executive director for Peaceful Paths, said the nonprofit had a six-month notice and began to prepare.  

Peaceful Paths ended with a $500,000 reduction for its 2023-2024 budget, which totaled $3.6 million for the past fiscal year. Next year, the nonprofit will take an additional $400,000 reduction. Federal grants, including VOCA, financed Peaceful Paths at $2.5 million in the past fiscal year. 

“It’s not like you can turn off enough lights to reduce the utility bill enough to actually make a difference there,” Beachy said. “We have very little wiggle room on what we can actually cut to take things out of the budget.” 

Beachy said the funding cut comes as Peaceful Paths deals with higher costs of gas, insurance and food, and she said the only real savings for the nonprofit are by reducing victim services and having fewer employees.  

Peaceful Paths started a hiring freeze when it heard about the reduction, and Beachy said the organization currently has 41 employees instead of the 47 it would like to have. The organization also reduced the amount of money used for operations assistance and supportive housing resources.  

Beachy said the largest impact this year will be direct assistance checks for items like bus tickets used by domestic abuse survivors to move out of the shelter and relocate to another part of Florida or the nation.   

Peaceful Paths will also reduce the number of counseling sessions each victim receives from 16, the best practice, to 12 sessions.  

“So, we’re reducing that best standard of care, but we’re making sure that people at least have some access,” Beachy said. “And that is one of our highest demand services.” 

In 2023, Peaceful Paths had just under 60,000 client contacts and its legal team helped 800 people. 

Beachy said the organization will reach out to local partners for increased support. She said that’ll include Alachua County and private donors. Beachy also spoke to the Alachua County Legislative Delegation about the impact.  

She and other victim services groups are asking the Florida Legislature to fill in the $40 million gap left by VOCA across the state. 

The VOCA fund is financed by fines and penalties that follow prosecutions of violent crime, but from 2017 to 2021, the number of prosecutions slowed.  

Beachy said the federal government informed VOCA-funded organizations in 2021 of the prosecution and financing slowdown—largely caused by a lack of employees and then the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The federal government started putting fixes in place, but Beachy said they’ve been slow to make an impact. While prosecutions are now on the rise, Beachy said nonprofits will still need to weather the next few years of funding loss.  

Current VOCA funding projections run through the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Beachy said Peaceful Paths will start to see a year-over-year increase after 2024 but the federal portion will still be below past years.  

“It is only with substantial funding support that we can weather these temporary reductions and not impact services,” Beachy said.  

Peaceful Paths listed several options for those wanting to help: donating online, participating in the Hope Works 50th Anniversary Campaign and Events in 2024, providing pro bono legal services and contacting your state and local representatives to let them know you support funds for victim safety and support.  

The Hope Works 50th Anniversary Campaign will run from April 5^th to May 5th and feature 50 pieces of art with the theme of hope. 

“Really the one thing that we make, if you look at it that way, is hope,” Beachy said. “We try to ensure that every person that walks through the door understands that hope truly does happen here.” 

The works of art will be loaned to Peaceful Paths by artists and collectors, and visitors can purchase a catalog of the pieces or contribute to be a part of the “Tree of Hope,” a mural that will be painted during the event.  

Peaceful Paths will also host its other annual fundraising events like the ninth annual 

Power of the Purse in March, The Amazing Give in April and Guest Chef Gainesville in October.  

But fundraisers and donations would need to more than double revenue to make up for the VOCA funding loss. In the last fiscal year, donations and fundraisers brought Peaceful Paths just over $480,000.  

“That is the nonprofit life in a nutshell,” Beachy said. “You’ve made it 50 years, you do fantastic work, and ‘oh, we’re sorry, but through no fault of your own, your money is getting decreased.’”