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Roberta L. Hacker, Executive Director |
Last week, I went to Harrisburg to attend the second annual commemoration of domestic violence victims in Pennsylvania. On the roll call were the names of the 114 women, children, and men who lost their lives this past year. Sixteen victims were from Philadelphia County.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. The movement against
domestic violence has expanded in strength and in allies, and garnered national attention. But the commemoration highlighted how much more work there is still to be done, how many more people we still have to reach.
Despite the urgent need for our work, this October we are struggling to keep our doors open. The Pennsylvania budget impasse, now well into its fourth month, means that WIT hasn't received the funding we need to continue our free counseling, advocacy, and support services.
It is a public scandal that the people who will suffer the most in this political stalemate are the ones who can afford it least. I urge you to contact your representative to stop the grandstanding and pass a viable budget. Lives are at stake.