Tell PA legislators to increase funding for domestic violence programs NOW

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.

PCADV’s network of 59 domestic violence programs relies on a broad and constantly moving mix of public and private funding to ensure the availability of free, confidential services to victims 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in all 67 counties in PA. A lack of adequate funding results in victims being placed on longer waitlists or survivors not receiving the services they need when they need them. 

During a single-day in 2023, PCADV programs served over 3,000 victims, but over 800 service requests were unmet because of a lack of financial resources. The number of unmet requests doubled in 2023 compared to the previous year. 

Increasing the domestic violence line item in the state budget in FY24-25 will begin to fill gaps paramount to ensuring victim safety.

• Flat funding: Already under-resourced and under-staffed domestic violence programs will be forced to cut back on basic services, layoff staff, or close their doors altogether.

• $5 million increase: Already under-resourced and under-staffed domestic violence programs begin to achieve equilibrium as they can fill staff vacancies. Unmet service requests will likely continue.

• $8 million increase: Domestic violence programs become more stable, working toward balanced budgets, and waitlists for victim services grow shorter. Unmet service requests will likely lessen.  

• $12 million increase: Domestic violence programs will stabilize and initiate new, long over-due programming statewide. Unmet service requests will likely remain but lessen. 

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.