Standing with Survivors – Kimberly Hurst at Avalon Healing Center

26,000 sexual assault and trafficking survivors.  That’s how many people Avalon Healing Center has provided free and immediate lifesaving services for in the almost 20 years since opening our doors in January of 2006. One third alone having been children!

As the Founder and Executive Director of Avalon, formerly known as the Wayne County Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner’s Program, I am writing this piece to bring awareness – to those who HAVE BEEN patients or clients, those who ARE patients or clients and those who WILL BE patients or client – about a very real threat to our existence in the community… pending federal and state funding cuts!

Avalon is a stand alone sexual assault center that provides 24/7 comprehensive medical-forensic services and crisis intervention, along with many different types of counseling, advocacy and community education.  We are a one-of-a-kind agency in Southeast Michigan and the largest in both size and number of patients served in the entire State.  Our model of care is essentially a one-stop-shop that incorporates trauma-responsive services for all types of sexual violence.  Located in Wayne County with seven locations across Detroit and the surrounding community, our main Center is in Downtown Detroit. We exist as the only provider of specialized medical services to those who experience sexual and domestic violence.  

We are heavily supported by both federal and state grants (70%), with the remainder by foundations, corporations and private donors.  Significant budget cuts loom at the state level, from both federal and state funding sources.  These cuts significantly threaten not only Avalon, but ALL statewide providers of sexual and domestic violence services, including shelters that provide critical services to women and children.

The reality of it is, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will be the victims of sexual violence in their lifetime.  Every 74 seconds, someone in the United States is sexually assaulted, and every 9 minutes that someone is a child (RAINN).  Michigan ranks 4th in the country for incidence of sexual assault and 7th for sex trafficking (Polaris).  No wonder Avalon is in the top 5th percentile for volume of patients seen in the country!

I never paid much attention to politics, because the issues of sexual violence and trafficking are not partisan.  Perpetrators don’t care if you’re a republican, democrat, independent, libertarian… take your pick.  Sexual violence is an issue that affects EVERYONE.  In the current political climate, now I have to pay attention because it is threatening our organization’s ability to continue to provide imperative crisis services.  With the state budget hanging in the balance over partisan games and versions of the budget reflecting significant cuts, I am writing as a survivor of sexual assault myself to make sure our community, which means you – as you are reading this – are aware of how our legislators are making decisions that will effect each and every person reading this – whether you realize it or not.

Avalon needs your help!  Due to cuts in Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding, which are federal funds that help us provide essential services, along with cuts at the state level and changes in boilerplate legislative language around how funding is distributed to agencies like ours, we are looking at a potential 20% decrease in services that are vital to survivors and their families.  

The crisis at hand is that the impact of these cuts will result in staff layoffs, crisis line closures, reduced shelter beds and diminished access to counseling services, legal advocacy, trauma-informed advocacy by both agencies like Avalon, as well as law enforcement – who also rely on VOCA funding.  Any cuts will therefore also strain police resources and compromise public safety.  The ripple effects of these cuts would also impact the systems that support sexual assault survivors – healthcare, community mental health, etc – which already strained with the anticipated impact of Medicaid cuts.

There is a solution!  The Michigan Legislature can fill the gap by allocating $50–$75 million in the FY2026 budget under the Crime Victim Sustaining Grants line. This investment would protect survivors, maintain public safety, and support healthier communities.  

This is not just a budget issue and this is absolutely not a political one either. It’s about survivors’ dignity, community safety, and justice. Investing in victim services leads to lower recidivism of perpetrators, reduced law enforcement costs, and stronger families.  

AVALON IS UNMUTED!!

We must act now – please help us spread the word – share this op-ed and take action by letting your local legislators know you want these services to continue to be available in your community. Now more than ever, from the rape and trafficking cases that get national attention, to the ones you see in your local news, to the friend or family member who may experience an assault tomorrow – organizations like Avalon Healing need your help!

Please let your legislators know how important our services are to you and your community.  Legislators to reach out to let them know that directly represent our physical locations:

House Rep. Joe Tate
House Rep. James DeSana
House Rep. Veronica Paiz
House Rep. Regina Weiss

And please reach out to House Representatives Matt Hall as Speaker of the House, Ann Bollin as Chair of the Appropriations Committee and Matt Maddock as Majority Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee. 

Please visit www.avalonhealing.org for more information about our services.  If you or a loved one has experienced an act of sexual violence, we are here for you.  Crisis line 313-474-SAFE – available 24/7 for immediate needs or call 313-964-9701 M-F 9-5.  You can also email info@avalonhealing.org for questions and support.  Avalon is here for you.