Today I was in D.C. demanding no cuts to public safety funding 

May 6, 2025
By Liz Roberts 

Earlier today, I spoke at a press conference in D.C. with other nonprofit leaders and elected officials demanding that public safety programs remain funded by the federal government. I went with a clear and urgent message: cutting federal funding for victim services is not just a policy decision—it is a life-or-death decision. 

The gathering of speakers—happening as part of the American Civil Liberties Union’s (ACLU) second annual Community Safety Week—couldn’t have come at a more necessary time. 

Last week marked the first 100 days of the second Trump administration, and they have been defined by harmful actions that have caused chaos and fear. So many of the communities we care for are facing profound and growing risks to their safety. Many of our nonprofit partners have seen cuts to funding for their lifesaving services, and there is much uncertainty about what other changes could be coming for our sector. 

Amidst these very real challenges, I am deeply grateful for my colleagues at Safe Horizon and the courageous clients we serve, who remind me every day that our work begins with hope, and that healing is possible when we work as a community and care for each other. While a lot of coverage of these first 100 days has focused on the bad, a lot of good has happened as well, and we can’t lose sight of that. 

In our first 100 days at Safe Horizon this year, we have reached more than 50,000 New Yorkers, helping people find safety and healing in ways that feel right for them. What does this look like? It means answering over 25,000 calls to our hotline, where compassionate advocates are ready to listen and provide support, 24/7; providing 500 children and their parents with a safe place to sleep in our shelters; helping 400 youth experiencing homelessness access food and basic health services; and much more.  

We have also refused to be silenced. As we continue our urgent work, we are speaking out against funding cuts and policy changes that threaten our clients and programs. Our Open Letter to President Trump, which calls on the administration to protect these resources, has over 800 signatures of support—join us in adding your name.    

In short, we are still here, working for survivors. 

We will keep standing firm in solidarity with our partners, communities, and survivors because there is so much good that we can still accomplish, and because we have many more days ahead of us.