2026 Legislative Session: Funding for Sexual Assault Services in New Mexico
Authors: Sonya Romero and Abbey Boynton- Co-directors of the New Mexico Sexual Assault Helpline
As co-directors of the New Mexico Sexual Assault Helpline, we support survivors of sexual violence every day. It is an honor to do this work, and we are inspired daily by the strength, resilience, and courage of survivors seeking support. The Helpline plays a vital role in violence prevention services across New Mexico, and we hope it can be a long-lasting resource that supports our shared hope for a world free of sexual violence.
That is why we are asking for $2 million in recurring funds, not only to keep the Helpline up and running, but to fund sexual assault services across the state. These funds are necessary to maintain the essential services and support for survivors that have been developed and that survivors of sexual assault across the state depend on.
The Helpline is just over a year old and has already played an impactful role in the lives of survivors in New Mexico. The Helpline is both a gateway to resources and support for survivors in communities with limited access, and it helps survivors connect with existing programs. We want to ensure that every survivor seeking support can access it, no matter where they are in the state. Without state funding, we wouldn’t have been able to complete this work. Recurring funding will help ensure services are available not just for one year, but can continue to be a cornerstone of services in New Mexico.
This work must continue. The Helpline provides a completely confidential and anonymous space for survivors. While the Helpline does not require survivors to disclose any information, among those who have chosen to share, we know we have provided services in 25 of 33 counties in New Mexico. We want to continue building bridges across all communities in the state. We know how important it is to have access to services when you live in a rural part of the state, and we are proud to be there for survivors when they turn to us for support, connection to services, or someone to talk to. Our focus has been and will continue to be on making the Helpline accessible to as many survivors as possible, and we cannot do that without sustainable resources.
Since launching, the Helpline has received over 1,700 contacts from across New Mexico. Each time someone calls, texts, or sends us a chat, we have the opportunity to connect them to local sexual assault services and programs in their area. To reach all of New Mexico, especially our rural communities, continued funding for the Helpline and our partner programs is more important than ever. Survivor services need sustained, reliable funding. Without continued investment in accessible care, we risk survivors struggling to obtain the tools needed to reclaim their lives. Survivors across the state rely on these programs, and we must continue to fund the support and services network that has been built.
The impact of the New Mexico Sexual Assault Helpline can be measured in many ways, but at its core is the quality of life for those who reach out. Our goal is always to reach more survivors, connect them with services, and give them the ability to talk to someone who cares. Help us to keep what we have built, working for survivors in our state.
