HARRISBURG, Pa., February 6, 2024 — On behalf of our membership of 59 domestic violence service providers across the Commonwealth, the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV) commends Gov. Shapiro for proposing a budget that includes a critical $5 million increase in funding for domestic violence services.
The Governor’s budget provides an excellent starting point to begin filling gaps in domestic violence funding that are paramount to ensuring access to services.
PCADV CEO, Susan Higginbotham
Domestic violence programs are at a tipping point, nearing a financial crisis that threatens the ability to keep their doors open to victims and survivors who are fleeing life-threatening violence in their own homes.
Domestic violence services in Pennsylvania have not had a meaningful increase in the state budget in half a decade despite overwhelming bi-partisan support, unprecedented need, and skyrocketing program operation costs. This has created an unsustainable situation where domestic violence advocates are asked to do more with less each year.
At PCADV’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month event in October, DHS Sec. Val Arkoosh said, “We must commit to support survivors, their children, and their loved ones as they build a life safe and separate from their abuser, and support them as they process and navigate the impacts of abuse, something PCADV and its partners are doing every single day.”
We are encouraged to see Gov. Shapiro follow through on that commitment by investing in domestic violence services in his proposal.
“The Governor’s budget provides an excellent starting point to begin filling gaps in domestic violence funding that are paramount to ensuring access to services,” said PCADV CEO Susan Higginbotham. “We applaud the administration’s support of domestic violence service providers and the nearly 90,000 Pennsylvanians they support each year.”
Our work continues as we look to our state legislators to ensure the final budget includes significant investments in victim and survivor safety. Last year, 90 representatives and senators signed a bi-partisan letter of support for a domestic violence funding increase, yet that increase didn’t make it over the finish line.
Victims, survivors, their children, and the dedicated professionals who serve them are relying on our state government to ensure that programs aren’t cut and those in need aren’t turned away or put on waitlists. We must not leave any victim or survivor behind.
Community members can sign PCADV’s petition to encourage their legislators to support increased domestic violence funding.
We look forward to working with the Governor and the Pennsylvania General Assembly in the coming months to finalize a budget that strengthens Pennsylvania’s ability to provide a path to safety and autonomy for all victims and survivors of domestic violence.
######
Founded in 1976, PCADV is the oldest statewide domestic violence coalition in the nation. Each year, its network of 59 local domestic violence programs provides free and confidential direct services to nearly 90,000 victims and survivors of domestic violence and their children in all 67 counties of the Commonwealth. Together, local programs and the statewide Coalition work in collaboration to deliver a continuum of services, support, and systems to help victims and survivors find safety, obtain justice, and build lives free of abuse. To learn more, visit pcadv.org or follow @PCADVorg on social media.
Contact: Lauren Duff, Director of Communications
lduff@pcadv.org 717-545-6400 ext. 129