From CeaseFirePA (http://www.ceasefirepa.org):
With your help, we can restore the services that gun crime victims need to heal.
After Latrice Felix’s son was shot and killed, she had to wait six months for grief counseling. “People think you bury your child and life goes on,” she said. “But they don’t see how sometimes you can’t get up out of bed, how you start crying when you’re driving down the street for nothing.”
No survivor should have to wait for support, but a broken model has left the nation without vital funds for victim services. [1]
The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) allocates money for victim support organizations, which help those who’ve experienced gun crime and other violence access essentials like shelter, therapy, job retraining and more. Because of a funding loophole, we’ve already lost $500 million that could have gone toward helping survivors. [2]
With a vote scheduled this week to Fix VOCA, your voice is needed now to ensure gun violence survivors are supported at https://ceasefirepa.salsalabs.org/vocasenateask716/index.html.
Already, Senator Toomey has proposed a dangerous amendment that could harm victim service organizations.
The House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed the VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021 (#VOCAFix). This week the Senate will vote, but some are trying to leave survivors suffering. Your voice is needed.
Thank you for joining us in bringing hope to victims of violence.
[1] “Grief counselors in short supply with gun violence rising.” AP, July 11, 2021[2] “Your View by crime victim advocates: Why we need Sen. Toomey’s support on a critical bill.” The Morning Call, July 5, 2021
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