One out of every four people have experienced rape or sexual violence in their lifetime, with nearly one-third of victims experiencing these crimes as a child. These statistics are disturbing on their own, yet when accounting for the ripple effects of these heinous crimes – long-term effects like PTSD and panic attacks, the distress of significant others and parents, being robbed of the basic human right of feeling safe – it’s clear to see how everyone in our community and across the Commonwealth is negatively and deeply impacted by sexual violence. person more likely to perpetrate sexual violence. Will also offer some tips in each post about protective factors that reduce the risk of violence.
Despite the staggering prevalence and lifetime impacts of sexual violence, Pennsylvania is effectively cutting funding to rape crisis centers. The cut that SARCC has received is $89,727 (a 28% cut in buying power from PA). When we put that next to the $113,321 cut in federal VOCA dollars (47% cut) and the temporary federal assistance funding we received during the past three years due to COVID relief, SARCC is facing a deficit of $212,720 (or 34% of our operating budget).
The state budget has flat-funded rape crisis centers for five consecutive years, including the Governor’s budget proposal for 2025-2026, despite cost of living rising more than 20% in that same time frame on top of increasing demand for services. Rape crisis centers in Pennsylvania are legally and contractually required to provide 24/7/365 services, including Hotline calls and in-person accompaniment to emergency rooms, but this is becoming increasingly difficult under these budgeting constraints. Early sexual abuse is a significant risk factor for more sexual violence, domestic violence, gun violence, and group violence (CDC, 2021). If we as a state believe we should continue the legal and moral obligations to our fellow Pennsylvanians in their most vulnerable moments, we must appropriately fund rape crisis centers.
The Commonwealth’s 47 rape crisis centers are currently allocated $11.921 million annually under the DHS budget, split per capita. We stand strongly with the Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect (PCAR) in demanding that we equitably fund these services with an additional $8 million, to a total of $19.921 million, to account for the increase in cost of living and critical need for services in our communities. We cannot realistically continue to do more with less staff, less funding, and more sexual violence in our communities.
If you would like more information about this funding crisis for sexual assault services, or would like to contact your legislator in support of this critical funding increase, please request to be added to our Community Council mailing list.
