HARRISBURG, PA — On Tuesday, June 16, at 2 p.m., the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV), Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect (PCAR), and programs throughout the state will host an event in the rotunda of the Pennsylvania State Capitol building, calling on an increase in respective budget line items.
PCADV is calling for an increase in the DHS domestic violence line item by $8 million to bring the total DV line item to $31.063 million.
PCAR is calling for an increase in the DHS rape crisis line item by $12.5 million to bring their total funding to $25.217 million.
PCADV and its member programs rely on appropriations in the state budget allocated to DHS through the domestic violence line item. Programs are still recovering from the FY25-26 budget impasse that left survivors and service providers without state support for more than 1/3 of the year. Services were curtailed and staff were laid off. Recovery will take time.
“While we are pleased to see the Governor prioritizing housing for all individuals across the Commonwealth and housing protections for domestic violence survivors specifically, we are disappointed that domestic violence services are not receiving an increase in the proposed budget,” said PCADV CEO Susan Higginbotham. “Without an increase in domestic violence program funding, programs continue to lack the ability to retain and recruit advocates, expand services for survivors, and maintain the cost of program infrastructure. These challenges put more survivors at risk and affect their ability to access safe and valuable services."
Pennsylvania is facing a growing gap between housing supply and demand, and survivors in PA wait longer for housing than any other group, and the services they need are historically underfunded.
Pennsylvania must invest in both domestic violence services and housing support for survivors. In just one day in 2024, PCADV programs served more than 3,100 victims. Still, nearly 500 requests for housing and services went unmet due to a lack of funding.
For PCAR, advocates say the timing could not be more critical. Pennsylvania helped build the nation's first statewide sexual assault coalition and, in partnership with state lawmakers, created a model for survivor services that has been replicated across the country. Today, after years of flat funding, PCAR warns that the very foundation Pennsylvania helped create is being allowed to erode.
“Flat funding is not neutral. It is a cut,” said Joyce Lukima, Coalition Director and COO of PCAR. “Pennsylvania led the nation in building a response to sexual violence. Lawmakers helped create a system that survivors have relied on for generations. Now, at a time when sexual violence is evolving and becoming more complex, that system is being asked to do more with less.”
The landscape of sexual abuse is changing rapidly. Communities across Pennsylvania are confronting the rise of AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM), deepfake exploitation, online grooming, and abuse facilitated through digital platforms and gaming environments. Rape crisis centers are doing their best to respond to these emerging threats while continuing to provide critical services that are stretched to their limit.
Without increased investment, rape crisis centers will have fewer resources to train staff, educate communities, support survivors affected by new forms of abuse, and keep pace with the realities facing children, families, and communities today.
All survivors of domestic and sexual violence deserve safety, stability, and support.
As budget negotiations continue, the decisions made in the coming weeks will have lasting consequences.
The decisions made in this budget will determine whether help is there when Pennsylvanians need it most. They will determine whether the parent of a child experiencing technology-facilitated abuse has a rape crisis center to call for support. They will determine whether a survivor fleeing domestic violence can find safety and timely access to shelter. The cost of inaction will be paid by survivors.
We invite you to join us at the State Capitol on June 16 for this co-led event. Hear from leaders from both organizations, legislators, community partners, and member programs.
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