HARRISBURG – On June 4, 2025, at the PA Capitol Complex, the Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect (PCAR), a division of Respect Together, members of rape crisis centers across PA, sexual assault survivors, Representative Kinkead, and Senator L. Williams convened to advocate for an $8 million increase to the DHS Rape Crisis line item of the PA state budget. For five years, rape crisis centers and survivors have struggled to provide and receive the care that is needed after experiencing sexual abuse, assault, or harassment. The PA General Assembly can combat this public health crisis by adjusting the line item to account for the past five years of rising costs. Rep. Kinkead states,
“The work that you [advocates] on behalf of survivors is just – cannot be overstated. Thank you all. Now it’s time for us, the legislature, to do the work that we’re supposed to be doing, which is to ensure that these folks [advocates] have the resources they need in order to help those that have been impacted by sexual violence.”
Sen. L. Williams spoke briefly about the work that still needs to be done by saying, “…even in this building [Capitol], women like me are warned not to be alone with certain men. This is a public health crisis…” Flat funding for the last five years has resulted in a funding cut because of the rising cost of expenses.
As Hilary Ballard, sexual assault survivor of Allegheny County and Board Member of PAAR, states, “I love the woman standing before you now, but I grieve the version of her that was lost when she believed her story didn’t matter.” Hilary began working with Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR), based in Allegheny County, where she has seen first-hand the anti-sexual assault movement, she states, “… that’s why I’m here, not just as a survivor, but as someone fighting for the future of this work.”
Maddie Young, Executive Director & CEO of YWCA Carlisle & Cumberland County, spoke about the struggles that rape crisis centers face with the 24/7 dedication of an advocate’s work. Maddie stated,
“Every day, a new survivor reaches out for help, and at a stand-alone agency, we have now reached our crisis. We have now reached our breaking point. It’s been so many years [five]since we received any type of increase, but we continue to be asked to provide more service[s] more programming.” Maddie said that over the last year, her center has seen a twenty-eight percent increase in people reaching out for service.
Next, LaQuisha Anthony, Senior Manager of Advocacy of WOAR Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence, spoke about the greatest need of a sexual assault center in one of America’s most diverse cities. LaQuisha stated, “Our ability to meet that need [sexual assault services] is at risk. Flat or inconsistent funding, especially at the state level, means we are often forced to do more with less.” LaQuisha spoke about the waitlists for services that should never be delayed, and triaging crisis calls because the staff are stretched so thin.
Finally, Gabriella Romeo, Public Policy Director of PCAR, challenged the PA General Assembly by exclaiming that, “enough was enough,” in response to the five years of flat funding the DHS Rape Crisis line item has received. She spoke, briefly, about how rape crisis centers have been a lifeline for sexual assault survivors for decades. Gabriella states,
“During those decades, rape crisis saw a fairly regular increase to their line item. Those increases allowed rape crisis centers to remain competitive both in the workforce and in the best practices provided to survivors. … Rape Crisis Centers struggle … under their stagnant budgets. Hard choices, for example, between supporting medical accompaniment or human trafficking initiatives, are an everyday conversation.”
Gabriella urged every member of the General Assembly to “…recognize this for what it is: a moment to choose compassion. To choose to believe survivors not just with words, but with resources.”
The purpose of this rally wasn’t a threat to quit working; it was a warning that these services can’t survive if continually flat-funded.
For media inquiries, please contact Codie Henry: chenry@pcar-resepcttogether.org. Photos are available upon request.
