The Pennsylvania state budget is now more than 100 days overdue and is contributing to the preexisting financial strain on rape crisis centers across the state.<\/p>\n
Rape crisis centers in Pennsylvania have been operating without access to any state funding since July 1.<\/a> Many centers rely<\/a> on this funding and have had to cut back on services and personnel <\/a>to continue operating.<\/p>\n The state has allotted $11.92 million for rape crisis services each year since 2021<\/a>, which crisis centers said <\/a>has made it difficult to keep up with their services. Gov. Josh Shapiro\u2019s proposed budget<\/a> offers the same amount and would be the fifth year of flat funding.\u00a0<\/p>\n According to Sadie Restivo, executive director of Pittsburgh Action Against Rape<\/a> \u2014 the only rape crisis center in Allegheny County \u2014 Pennsylvania rape crisis centers were already asking for an $8 million increase in funding for the 2025-26 fiscal year before the budget was proposed.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis is bare bones what we would need in order to continue to function at the level we\u2019re functioning at,\u201d Restivo said.\u00a0<\/p>\n According to Restivo, rape crisis centers in Pennsylvania are required to have a 24-hour help line and to respond to all calls from hospitals in the area within 24 hours. The lack of state funding means employees must continue to do so despite not being paid for their work.<\/p>\n On Oct. 16, PAAR held a joint press conference with the Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect<\/a> \u2014 Pennsylvania\u2019s state coalition for rape crisis centers \u2014 to address these concerns and \u201cdemand immediate action\u201d<\/a> from the state.\u00a0<\/p>\n Yolanda Edrington, chief executive officer of PCAR, said the budget impasse has caused centers to take out loans and max out credit cards.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, after more than three months, 108 days, without state funding, [crisis centers] are past their breaking point,\u201d Edrington said. \u201cLet\u2019s be clear \u2014 sexual violence is not a partisan issue.\u201d<\/p>\n Restivo said PAAR has had to make some difficult changes due to the lack of state funding, including instituting a spending freeze and recently terminating two direct service positions. She said she considers it one of the \u201clucky\u201d centers, since it has other funding sources to maintain employee pay and center operations.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAllegheny County is covering what probably many other counties\u2019 [Children, Youth and Families] and [Department of Human Services] offices are not able to cover,\u201d Restivo said.<\/p>\n PAAR has also retained access to federal funding payments during the government shutdown, according to Restivo.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cNow, that could stop on a moment\u2019s notice,\u201d Restivo said. \u201cThat could stop at the end of October.\u201d<\/p>\n Restivo said she anticipates those funds will run out soon, even with donor money and federal and county funds.<\/p>\n \u201cCome November, we will have to start to dip into our reserve,\u201d Restivo said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n PAAR also works<\/a> with Prevention at Pitt<\/a> to support students on Pitt\u2019s campus. Carrie Benson, Prevention at Pitt director, said the partnership remains fully functioning despite the lack of state funding.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOur relationship is so important to the Pitt community \u2014 the services PAAR provides to survivors on our campus are invaluable,\u201d Benson said.<\/p>\n Prevention at Pitt received a $500,000 Pitt SEED grant<\/a> in 2022 that has financed much of its programming and services over the past few years.<\/p>\n \u201cAs long as PAAR stays open, we fully expect them to continue their partnership with Pitt, as it is financially supported through our grant,\u201d Benson said.<\/p>\n