A Lower Bucks woman escaping domestic terror and was living in a shelter found an apartment in another county so she and her boys could live free of terror and abuse. Days after starting the move in process, her abuser found her.
The following day, she took her own life. This happened in the late winter of 2023.
A bill that state Reps. Lindsay Powell (D-Alleghany Co) and Shelby Labs’ (R-Bucks Co) establishing the Victims of Violence Relocation Act passed the state House last week and perhaps in the very near future will provide a safe way out for victims of violence of any kind, unlike the Latina who could not get far away enough from her abuser in 2023.
Under the legislation (H.B. 2162), eligible violent crime survivors would be entitled to relocation assistance and extend the timeframe for requesting such assistance from 90 to 180 days after the crime occurred. The legislators said this would allow survivors more time to access necessary support and ensure they can utilize federal documentation to validate their need for relocation.
“Partnering with Representative Labs on this bill exemplifies that the PA House stands united with survivors of violent crime by expanding housing assistance to them in their time of need.”
Credit: state Rep Labs
Powell, D-Allegheny, said. “Thank you to all my colleagues for your affirmative votes and your commitment to helping survivors start their lives a new.”“I want to thank Representative Powell for her collaboration on this important piece of legislation that protects victims and empowers survivors,” Labs, R-Bucks, added. “The passage of House Bill 2162 is a critical step in ensuring our commitment to making Pennsylvania a safer place for victims of violence and providing a foundation of support during recovery.”
The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence says one in three women, one in four men and nearly half of LGBTQ+ individuals will experience domestic violence in their lifetime.
The bill now moves to the state Senate for consideration.