A Much Needed Program

In Williams County, the rates of domestic violence victimizations have been increasing annually, with the problem made worse by the pandemic. Those issues have the Williams County Victim Assistance program preparing for larger-than-normal increases in the number of victims in the coming year. In the most recent fiscal year for which figures are available, the number of victims served by the two-person WCVA staff rose to 572. Yet a crucial funding source of WCVA has been cut significantly by the state. Victims Assistance is an essential service that has helped hundreds of people during some of the worst days of their lives. Victim Assistance is essentially open around the clock, 24/7, 365, for services and is generally the first agency made aware of any crime in Williams County to make contact with the victim.