Every state in the nation has programs to reimburse victims of violent crimes for medical bills, funeral costs, and lost wages. But our people aren’t seeing the benefits of this community investment.
According to an Associated Press report, Black applicants are twice as likely as white applicants to be denied. This means thousands of Black families are missing out on aid dollars a year.
State bias often comes into play when we apply for aid. Many state employees make their decisions based on police information, which can be biased – as can the opinions of those responsible for reviewing applications.
There are non-profit organizations across the country working on alternatives to support victims of crimes. We can also lean into our community and build more support systems together.
We can not rely on the government to take care of us in our times of need. Mutual aid is a way forward. We can take care of our own victims better than the system can.