NORWICH – Facing a three-quarters reduction in state aid for its Crime Victims Program, Catholic Charities in Chenango County is being forced to re-examine services offered and plan for financial hardships ahead.

It was announced this month that New York State will allocate nearly $36.2 million in grants to benefit 179 organizations that assist in crime victims across the state. Of that, Catholic Charities of Chenango County is slated for $46,223 for its 2014-2015 budget year, which is dramatically less than the $206,269 received for the program a year ago.

“For us, funding announcements this year wasn’t good news. Our funding had been drastically cut from what it previously was,” said Robin Beckwith, Executive Director for Catholic Charities of Chenango County. “Right now, we’re really looking at how to restructure.”

Catholic Charities’ budget year runs from October to September. While funding for Crime Victims has previously been awarded in one lump sum, this is the first year New York State split allocations into four different categories: victims of domestic violence; victims of child abuse; victims of sexual assault; and underserved victims.

Changes in funding are largely due to a restructuring of health and human services programs at the state level, which is leaving local level organizations reeling, Beckwith explained. “This is a the wave of what’s going on with the state and we’re nervous that some of the rural communities are going to be left out.”