Advocates and survivors of sexual assault gathered in Pittsburgh on Thursday to urge lawmakers in Harrisburg to end the 100-plus-day budget impasse, as support groups providing critical services face the combined crises of state and federal funding delays.

“How long must survivors wait for help?,” Yolanda Edrington, CEO of the Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect, said on the City County Building portico, flanked by advocates and survivors holding signs reading “Healing can’t wait,” and “Believe survivors.” “How many advocates must lose their jobs because lawmakers have not done theirs? How many rape crisis centers must come close to closing their doors before this becomes an urgent issue for all of us?”

PCAR, Pittsburgh Action Against Rape and other groups say rape crisis centers,

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