Budget cuts in Oakland affect survivors of domestic violence

The possibility of losing specialized services for immigrant women who are survivors of domestic violence brought dozens of members of Mujeres Unidas y Activas to protest in front of Oakland City Hall on June 9. The concern arose after the Department of Violence Prevention distributed $38 million among 21 community organizations, excluding groups that had historically received support and significantly reducing the resources allocated to domestic violence services and legal counseling in Spanish.

Sofia Rerucha, a reporter for Radio Bilingüe, prepared this report.

Mujeres Unidas y Activas is a community group that has been supporting Latina and Indigenous women in the Bay Area since 1989. On June 9, they gathered outside Oakland City Hall. Their goal is to reverse the proposed budget cuts for the 2027–2029 period, which would eliminate—for the first time in decades—all culturally relevant services for Latina and Maya immigrant survivors of domestic violence.

The City of Oakland’s Department of Violence Prevention recently awarded $38M in grants to 21 community organizations. But several, such as Mujeres Unidas y Activas, are no longer among those set to receive funding. According to the organization, the proposed plan allocates just 24% of the funds to domestic violence services, even though more than 3,000 Oakland residents report cases each year. Added to this is a 50% cut in funding for legal counseling, including the only services available in Spanish.

“I’m here today to share my story and ask you to consider the real impact these funds have on the lives of many people like me.”

She is Alicia Jiménez, a domestic violence survivor who spoke at the city council meeting.

“My little girl was born—my first daughter. Her father left me; he didn’t want to take care of his daughter, and he threatened me.”

Given the 3,000 cases reported each year, Mujeres Unidas y Activas says this figure is underreported because, in reality, it is emotionally difficult and terrifying to report an incident of domestic violence. In that sense, the elimination of funding affects not only the Latino and Indigenous communities but also the Black population in Oakland, which suffers from gun violence.

“Thanks to this support, I can begin a new chapter in my life. Today, I am not only a survivor but also a leader who supports other women going through similar situations. I have seen with my own eyes how this organization transforms lives, offers hope, and helps women and families find a path to safety and stability.”

Immigrant women are less likely to report domestic violence, and about 1 in 3 Latina women has experienced it, according to a report by Esperanza United, a clinic for survivors.

For them, culturally and linguistically responsive support is scarce. And this is a determining factor in whether they are likely to report abuse, since feeling comfortable talking about what they’re going through is more difficult if support isn’t offered in their native language. For Alicia, being surrounded by other Indigenous and Latina women helped her feel safer and more at ease.

“I’ve managed to get to a point where I feel happy now because I’ve learned a lot and I know a little about this—it used to be very difficult. But if it happens to me again, I’ll be able to turn to this organization.”

According to Mujeres Unidas y Activas, none of the organizations set to receive municipal funds provide services for Latina and Maya survivors. However, the organization will continue to offer its services even without the grants.