Rape crisis centers will receive a much needed 10 percent increase in Governor Tom Corbett’s proposed budget.
“The $700,000 in the governor’s budget shows the governor understands the importance and need for sexual violence services to men, women and children of the Commonwealth. PCAR’s rape crisis centers served over 31,000 clients last year. We applaud Governor Corbett for his vision and commitment,” said Delilah Rumburg, PCAR CEO.
There has been no increase in funding to rape crisis centers in over a decade.
Increased funding would help to support the work of PCAR’s network of 50 rape crisis centers that serve victims of all ages in all 67 counties in Pennsylvania.
A recent Department of Public Welfare survey found most centers simply do not have enough staff to cover the demand for services. Local crisis centers have lost significant numbers of personnel; many have lost as much as one third of their professional staff in the last decade.
According to one urban rape crisis center, “In the very near future our center will be at capacity, and unable to meet victims in the emergency room or provide an advocate for court accompaniment.”
We call on legislators to act swiftly to approve this increase.