LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Nevada victim advocate groups are holding their collective breath as a federal government budget battle and possible shutdown looms.
The Nevada Coalition to END Domestic and Sexual Violence has also released its annual report, which shows the vast majority of funding for victim resources, programs and shelters come from government grants.
"In Nevada, we have never been able to meet the full need of domestic violence in the state," said Technical Assistance Coordinator Lisa Lynn Chapman, with the coalition.
Chapman is extremely concerned about a possible shutdown because so much of the funding for victims, 90 percent, is through the government.
"Right now, we are concerned whether they're going to shutdown and whether some of the grants that our member programs operate on, are going to stop during the shutdown," said Chapman.
A possible prolonged shutdown could mean delays in funds.
"Grants are shrinking, on a regular basis," added Chapman.
"We have designated funding here [from the State of Nevada] but it's not nearly enough," said Chapman.
Chapman says the violence is getting worse, citing the 2017 report.
According to the report, 28 people were killed by someone they thought they knew or loved across Nevada, and of those who were killed, 52 percent died by gunfire, 19 percent were stabbed to death.
"If this message and horrific event brings awareness and prevention to even one case, Makayla's life and death will not have passed in vain," said Paul Meadows, godfather of Makayla Rhiner.
Rhiner, 21, is one of the victims listed in the report. Rhiner was stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend Brandon Hanson in August 2017.
A jury convicted Hanson of murder.
