Advocates applaud Shapiro’s $5 million investment for domestic violence, crime survivors
The state funding helps survivors pay for counseling, medical bills, child care, and more.
Domestic violence survivors in Pennsylvania are receiving funding for counseling, medical bills and other critical assistance from a state program that received a much-needed $5 million investment in the 2024-25 state budget, advocates said during a press conference in York County on Oct. 7.
State and local officials gathered for the event, which honored Domestic Violence Awareness Month and highlighted the impact of the $5 million for the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s Victims Compensation Assistance Program. Through that program, victims of domestic violence and other crimes are able to submit claims for financial assistance to cover relocation, lost wages, child care, funerals, and more.
“October is a time for us to shed a light on the devastating impact that domestic violence has on the lives of survivors, but also to share stories of hope,” said Kathy Buckley, the director of the Office of Victims’ Services at the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. “We’re here to remind all citizens of York County and across Pennsylvania who have been impacted by domestic violence that there are programs and advocates to stand by your side.”
This is the first year the state budget has provided funding for the Victims Compensation Assistance Program, referred to as VCAP.
The majority of the funding for VCAP comes from fines and penalties that courts collect from offenders, which are deposited into the state’s Crime Victims Compensation Fund. The Crime Victims Fund established by the federal Victims of Crime Act of 1984 reimburses up to 75% of the state’s expenses for eligible victims’ compensation claims.
Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro included the $5 million investment in his proposed 2024-25 budget because the program’s expenditures have outpaced deposits into the state’s Crime Victims Compensation Fund, which has triggered reductions in dollars reimbursed by the federal government.
Advocates said at the Oct. 7 press conference that the state funding is a lifeline for domestic violence survivors and other crime victims working to rebuild their lives.
“Just think about it: If you’re a victim of domestic violence, the last thing you want to think about is, How am I going to pay for the medical bills that I just incurred?” Buckley said. “Or if I was a survivor of sexual assault, why do I have to think about how I’m going to come up with funding or to pay for the counseling that I need to help me deal with the trauma that I’ve experienced? So VCAP can make a difference.”
One in three women, one in four men, and nearly half of LGBTQ+ individuals will experience domestic violence in their lifetime, the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence says. In Pennsylvania, there were 119 domestic violence-related deaths in 2023. Fifty-four percent of those who died were killed by an intimate partner or former partner.
Many of those who experience domestic violence turn to the Victims Compensation Assistance Program for help. Over the past five years, PCCD says, it has paid more than 76,000 compensation claims totaling more than $65 million through the victims compensation program. That money has gone to victims in all of the state’s 67 counties. With the additional funding from the state, PCCD will be able to reach even more people, Buckley said.
Megan Pace, a domestic violence coordinator at the York County Victim/Witness Unit, said the funding from VCAP is much needed in south central Pennsylvania’s York County. She noted that 22% of the crime victims served in the county are domestic violence survivors and a third of them utilize VCAP.
Amber Fullwood, a York County victim witness coordinator who is responsible for the county’s felony domestic violence and sexual assault cases, said the funding is especially useful for those seeking money for counseling, relocation, medical expenses, child care, and forensic rape exams.
“It’s also very beneficial because it focuses not only on the financial recovery but also their mental recovery,” Fullwood said. “When a lot of victims experience these things, they don’t even think about counseling. But with VCAP, they’re able to utilize those resources and that financial aspect.”
If you or someone you know is affected by domestic violence or other crimes, visit the Pennsylvania Crime Victims website for information about the VCAP and other resources.