Every state runs one. Most people have never heard of them. Here is how they work for cleanup expenses.
Every U.S. state (plus DC) operates a crime victim compensation program — payer-of-last-resort funds, largely financed by offender fees and federal VOCA grants, that reimburse victims of violent crime for expenses insurance doesn't cover. Covered categories commonly include medical bills, counseling, funeral costs, lost wages — and in most states, crime-scene cleanup.
Find your state program through your state attorney general's office or the National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards (nacvcb.org); many police departments and prosecutors' victim-advocate offices will help you file — that is literally their job. Keep every receipt, the police report number, and the cleanup company's itemized invoice and disposal documentation. File early even if other coverage is pending: you can usually amend a claim, but you cannot un-miss a deadline. Cleanup companies that work these scenes routinely can often point you to the right forms — ask when you call.
Some programs pay providers directly; others reimburse you. Many cleanup companies familiar with the process will bill the program or wait for its decision — ask before work begins.
Structural cleanup is typically the property owner's responsibility, but a tenant's damaged belongings and other expenses may be claimable. Both the program and the landlord's insurer may be involved.
Arrest and conviction are generally not required — a promptly reported, documented crime and your cooperation are. Do not skip applying because the case is unsolved.