By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Olivia Goldhill
Published on 2024-01-23 09:30:05
The head of the Abortion Fund of Ohio was dismayed when she reviewed the organization’s finances at the end of the year. In 2023, the fund paid out $1.5 million to assist nearly 4,400 patients in obtaining abortions, a significant increase from the 1,175 patients supported in the previous year. The pace of financial support was simply not sustainable. Concerned that the fund would run out of money and face closure, the organization made the difficult decision to suspend operations until February 1st. Taren Holliman, the program manager, expressed the challenges faced by the nonprofit in handling the overwhelming demand, which resulted in the suspension. This trend was not unique to the Abortion Fund of Ohio, as other abortion funds across the country encountered similar situations. The Utah Abortion Fund and Indigenous Women Rising were also forced to pause operations due to exceeding their budgets.
Despite the increased demand and reliance on abortion funds, donations have seen a downward trend, especially since the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade. This has caused a strain on the financial capabilities of these funds as they strive to support individuals seeking abortions, particularly in the face of increased costs following the court’s decision.
The National Network of Abortion Funds, consisting of 100 funds working together, witnessed a surge in donations after the Supreme Court’s decision, allowing them to collectively distribute about $37 million to support over 100,000 individuals. However, the financial support received during this period has gradually declined, impacting the funds’ ability to sustain their operations.
The rise in costs for patients seeking abortions, compounded by new state restrictions and the need to cover travel expenses, has added to the financial strain faced by abortion funds. Additionally, dealing with scammers seeking free travel adds to the challenges faced by these funds.
In response to this concerning trend, many abortion funds have been forced to scale back their operations, limiting support to those in more urgent or challenging situations. This has created a ripple effect, impacting other abortion funds and further worsening the challenges they face. As a result, the sustainability of the entire abortion support movement remains uncertain.
Looking ahead, these funds are preparing for their annual fund drive and are working to reduce costs while addressing potential legal and regulatory changes that could impact abortion access in the future. Despite these efforts, the overall sustainability of the movement remains in question, as the uncertainty surrounding donations and operational challenges persists.
Read the original article on Africa Health News
