PA Safe Caucus highlights violence intervention and prevention programs
Community partners across PA urge VIP funding in 2026-27 State Budget
Rep. Dan B. Frankel, Rep. Anthony Bellmon June 9, 2026 | 4:43 PM
HARRISBURG, June 9 – State Reps. Dan Frankel and Anthony Bellmon, co-chairs of the PA Safe Caucus, today held a news conference to highlight the success of Violence Intervention and Prevention programs that reduce gun violence, strengthen community safety and save lives across Pennsylvania.
VIP funds support a wide range of community-based violence prevention and intervention efforts, including street outreach and violence interruption programs, reentry and workforce development programs, victim services, hospital-based violence intervention programs, and more.
“These programs connect people to opportunity, support victims, help individuals rebuild their lives, and intervene before conflicts turn deadly,” said Frankel, D-Allegheny. “If we are serious about making our neighborhoods safer, reducing gun violence, and strengthening families, we must continue investing in these proven strategies and ensure VIP programs have the resources they need to succeed.”
Advocates and community partners involved in VIP programs in Philadelphia, York, Lancaster and Monroe counties shared firsthand accounts of the real-world benefits these programs provide to communities across Pennsylvania and urge the state legislature to prioritize VIP appropriation in the upcoming 2026-27 state budget.
“In recent years, our state has taken tremendous strides in reducing gun violence, and this is a large part due to programs such as VIP,” said Bellmon, D-Phila. “While I am pleased to see progress, there is still much work to do in reaching our ultimate goal of ending gun violence. It is critical that we continue funding this program that is helping to keep communities across Pennsylvania safe and save lives. It all starts with increasing funding in the state budget we pass this year.”
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EDITORS/ASSIGNMENT DESKS: Video of the news conference is available here.