Rosaura
Torres‑Sadler
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19152‑2219
October
1, 2015
The
Honorable Tom Wolf
Governor of Pennsylvania
225 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Re:
The Budget Impasse Hurts Victims and Service Providers
Dear
Governor Wolf:
In
October, during national Domestic Violence Awareness Month, lives will be at
risk across the commonwealth as victims in crisis lose access to domestic
violence services due to the state budget impasse. The time to agree to a state
budget has come and gone.
Please
urge your caucus leadership to end the budget impasse and consider additional
revenue that invests in all human services for the long term, including
supporting survivors of domestic violence.
The
Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence conducted a survey to
demonstrate and gauge the impact of the impasse on the 60 domestic violence
centers serving all 67 counties. Responses from centers serving rural, urban
and suburban counties revealed:
‑All centers are using credit cards and
reserves to keep serving victims. Many have already begun using lines of
credit.
‑Seven centers anticipate running out of
funds in October and 16 more will run out of funds in November. All 60 centers
will run out of reserve funds by the end of December.
‑Likely the first centers to close their
doors will be in rural parts of Pennsylvania with limited resources and
counties where one center is the only domestic violence service provider. In
some cases these centers are the only victim service provider for sexual
assault victims as well. The responsibility to perform these vital services
will shift to law enforcement and court personnel.
‑Across the state, centers with vacant
positions have frozen hiring processes to ensure current staff will continue to
be paid. At least 19 centers anticipate furloughing staff.
‑One center serving northern rural
counties has been forced to furlough staff already. Meanwhile, staff at a
suburban southeastern center have agreed to volunteer for the month of October
in order to keep serving victims.
‑At least 25 centers have curtailed
providing supportive services including: prevention education programs,
children�s advocacy services, medical advocacy services, food pantry
services, and relocation funds for victims.
The
lack of resolution to the overall budget is putting lives at stake. On behalf
of the thousands of victims served by domestic violence centers every year in
Pennsylvania, please end the state budget impasse now.
Sincerely,
Sincerely,
Rosaura
Torres‑Sadler
