Victims of violent crime speak in support of $9 million budget infusion

(The Center Square) – Last week, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis joined advocates and mothers impacted by violent crime to support a proposed $9 million to the state’s Victims Compensation Assistance Program.

The program covers costs like medical treatment, missed wages and funeral expenses incurred by victims of crime.

The additional funding would buoy a program that is largely supported by the federal Victims of Crime Act, which reimburses states for 75% of their spending in this area. Most of the money comes from fees and fines levied against offenders.

“On Nov. 24, 2019, I woke up with four children and laid my head down that night to three children,” said Ebony Saunders, whose teenage daughter Elarrah Findley-Saunders, was murdered in Wilkinsburg. “My first thing was how am I going to lay my baby to rest?”

Detectives told Saunders about the Center for Victims who helped her with arranging the funeral for her daughter. VCAP was also able to assist with counseling and financial need from missed work after the loss.

“The pain of losing a child–to have someone just there to help you, it’s lifesaving,” said Saunders.

Standing with her was community and family support therapist Geraldine Massey.

“This money could really make a big difference to those mothers and fathers,” said Massey who herself lost two sons to homicide. She said bereaved parents are like the “walking dead” and need support to make executive and financial decisions in the wake of a loss.

Maggie Prescott from the Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh spoke about a client she represented who she called “Claire.” Claire was murdered by her estranged husband on the morning of her child support hearing. It was VCAP that helped her mother to cover the costs of Claire’s funeral and burial, giving her the financial stability she needed to begin raising her two grandchildren.

The fund, however, doesn’t only benefit those who have lost their loved ones. It also benefits survivors of violent crime who need the assistance to move forward with their lives, including children. A Child’s Place, which provides comprehensive exams and counseling services to children who have suffered sexual abuse, uses VCAP funds to cover the costs.

Grace Coleman, president and CEO of Crisis Center North, described the journey of one victim, “Tina” following what Coleman described as “indescribable physical and sexual assault by her partner.” The center dispatched a mobile advocate to the hospital where Tina was connected with services providing counseling and advocacy.

“Tina’s injuries required a long and difficult recovery on both the physical and the emotional level, but ultimately, Tina was only able to take the journey toward healing because she received the critical financial assistance and support from VCAP post her sexual assault,” said Coleman.

VCAP has served over 67,000 claims in the past five years, covering more than $67 million in expenses through the funds across all 67 counties in the state.