HARRISBURG, PA – Today, advocates from PCAR and the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV) gathered at the Pennsylvania Capitol Rotunda to call on the General Assembly to pass a state budget and provide a meaningful funding increase for rape crisis centers across the Commonwealth. The press conference highlighted the urgent consequences of the ongoing budget impasse for survivors of sexual and domestic violence.
“Rape crisis centers and domestic violence programs are on the brink,” said Yolanda Edrington, CEO of PCAR. “Since July, these programs have gone without the critical state dollars they rely on to pay rent, keep the lights on, and pay their staff. Many are maxing out credit cards and lines of credit just to stay open — debt they will struggle to repay. Staff are being laid off or reduced to part-time, wait times are increasing, and programs are being scaled back or cut entirely.”
Programs from across the Commonwealth described how this crisis is playing out in their communities.
“Months without the critical funding we need to reimburse us for our expenses is taking a toll, said Beth Garrigan CEO of Safe Berks, a domestic violence and sexual assault program serving Berks County. “Since July we have been unable to fill vacant positions because of a hiring freeze. We’ve asked our vendors for leniency with payments. which is now impacting their livelihood. We’ve taken on debt. And sadly, now as of Friday, we had to lay off several of our staff.”
“In rural communities like ours, the impact is especially stark,” said Mae-Lin Kranz, CEO of Transitions, a domestic violence and sexual assault program serving the rural counties of Union, Snyder, and Northumberland. ““We cover a large geographic area with few staff. Survivors often must travel long distances to reach us — if they can get there at all. And if we are forced to cut back or close, there is nowhere else for those survivors to go. This week alone my program began covering the 24-hour hotline for another rural center that had to lay off more than 50% of their staff.”
Rachel Mercuri, a counselor and advocate from SARCC, a sexual assault service program serving Lebanon and Schuylkill Counties described how lifelines for survivors are unraveling each day the budget impasse continues. “Staff are stretched to the breaking point. Programs are closing their doors, and survivors are being left without the support they so desperately need.”
Edrington stressed that these challenges existed long before the budget impasse. Rising costs and inflation have made flat funding unsustainable.
“This is why we have repeatedly called for an $8 million increase to the Department of Human Services Rape Crisis line item — to ensure these life-saving programs can continue their work without sacrificing services or staff,” she said.
“On behalf of PCAR and our partners at PCADV, we call on the General Assembly to act now,” Edrington continued. “Pass a budget with a meaningful funding increase for rape crisis centers across the Commonwealth. Fund these essential services — communities across Pennsylvania are counting on you.”
About PCAR
The Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect (PCAR) is the statewide division of Respect Together. PCAR partners with a network of rape crisis centers that serve all 67 counties in the commonwealth providing support to survivors and promoting safe, respectful communities.