On Oct. 6, Philadelphia’s only rape crisis center announced it would be laying off employees due to Pennsylvania’s ongoing budget crisis. Women Organized Against Rape (WOAR) – Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence, has served the community for over 50 years, providing essential services, such as a 24/7 hotline, therapy and counseling and educational resources to survivors. The layoffs stand to create gaps in WOAR’s services, leaving the organization’s thousands of clients without access to many free and potentially life-saving resources.
In the United States, roughly 423,000 people aged 12 and older experience sexual violence each year, amounting to about 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men having experienced rape or attempted rape in their lifetimes. For many of these survivors, the trauma associated with their attack leads to various mental health struggles, including anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Mental health services facilitate healing and help individuals process their past trauma, making access to counseling essential for survivors of assault.
Prior to the layoffs, WOAR provided this support to survivors of sexual violence since the 1970s. WOAR’s free and accessible professional services ensured that aid wasn’t dependent on socioeconomic status, a reality currently jeopardized by the organization’s budget-induced layoffs.
The need for WOAR’s services remains unchanged amid the changes. Without adequate staff, therapy sessions may become less available and prevention education efforts could be sidelined. These changes would limit WOAR’s ability to serve the community, leaving survivors with fewer resources at their disposal.
When these services are threatened, survivors are forced to endure financial barriers in addition to the trauma they’ve endured and relive. Protecting the accessibility of WOAR’s programs is necessary in ensuring equity for all survivors in Philadelphia. A price can’t be placed on these life-altering services.
Members of the St. Joe’s community seeking support are encouraged to contact the following resources:
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), 610-660-1090
Campus Ministry, 610-660-1030
The Office of Student Outreach & Support, 610-660-1149
The Jesuit community, 610-660-1400
Employee Assistance Program, 866-799-2728
