Survivors of sexual assault across Pennsylvania may have more access to support services after state leaders approved a $12 million increase in funding for the state’s network of rape crisis centers.The additional investment brings total state funding for Pennsylvania’s 47 rape crisis centers to more than $24 million. Gov. Josh Shapiro highlighted the increase Monday at the YWCA of Carlisle and Cumberland County, saying the funding will help organizations that provide crisis counseling, advocacy and other services for survivors.For crisis advocates, the funding helps ensure someone is available to answer calls from survivors seeking support.”Sometimes we receive calls from people who just want to hear someone who understands what they’re going through,” said Rosario Dalton, a crisis advocate with the YWCA of Carlisle & Cumberland County. “I also believe what they’re’re going through.”Advocates said many rape crisis centers have struggled financially in recent years because of federal funding reductions and flat state funding.”During that time, because of federal funding cuts and level funding at the state level, what we actually saw was that rape crisis centers were cutting their staff significantly,” said Ali Perrotto of the Sexual Assault Resource and Counseling Center, which serves Lebanon and Schuylkill counties.State Human Services Secretary Val Arkoosh said last year’s prolonged state budget impasse also strained many nonprofit organizations.”They simply could not afford to pay their salaries, nor could they afford to take on a bridge loan because those loans come with interest,” Arkoosh said.The funding increase was not included in Shapiro’s initial budget proposal. Asked what prompted the change during negotiations with lawmakers, the governor said conversations with rape crisis centers convinced him additional support was necessary.”I heard from the rape crisis centers across Pennsylvania after I introduced my budget, and they said they needed more,” Shapiro said. “The more I listened to them, and after visiting one of the 47 rape crisis centers in Pittsburgh, the more I realized that we needed to do more in this budget.”
CARLISLE, Pa. —
Survivors of sexual assault across Pennsylvania may have more access to support services after state leaders approved a $12 million increase in funding for the state’s network of rape crisis centers.
The additional investment brings total state funding for Pennsylvania’s 47 rape crisis centers to more than $24 million. Gov. Josh Shapiro highlighted the increase Monday at the YWCA of Carlisle and Cumberland County, saying the funding will help organizations that provide crisis counseling, advocacy and other services for survivors.
For crisis advocates, the funding helps ensure someone is available to answer calls from survivors seeking support.
“Sometimes we receive calls from people who just want to hear someone who understands what they’re going through,” said Rosario Dalton, a crisis advocate with the YWCA of Carlisle & Cumberland County. “I also believe what they’re’re going through.”
Advocates said many rape crisis centers have struggled financially in recent years because of federal funding reductions and flat state funding.
“During that time, because of federal funding cuts and level funding at the state level, what we actually saw was that rape crisis centers were cutting their staff significantly,” said Ali Perrotto of the Sexual Assault Resource and Counseling Center, which serves Lebanon and Schuylkill counties.
State Human Services Secretary Val Arkoosh said last year’s prolonged state budget impasse also strained many nonprofit organizations.
“They simply could not afford to pay their salaries, nor could they afford to take on a bridge loan because those loans come with interest,” Arkoosh said.
The funding increase was not included in Shapiro’s initial budget proposal. Asked what prompted the change during negotiations with lawmakers, the governor said conversations with rape crisis centers convinced him additional support was necessary.
“I heard from the rape crisis centers across Pennsylvania after I introduced my budget, and they said they needed more,” Shapiro said. “The more I listened to them, and after visiting one of the 47 rape crisis centers in Pittsburgh, the more I realized that we needed to do more in this budget.”