PHILADELPHIA – The City of Philadelphia Office of Public Safety’s Office of the Victim Advocate today launched its landmark Homicide Victim Funeral Assistance (HVFA) program, designed to help the families of homicide victims killed in the city defray the costs of providing a proper, dignified, culturally-informed funeral for their loved ones. Each burial or interment can receive up to $2,000 in financial assistance from the City, paid directly to vendors or service providers who apply through the OPS Office of Victim Advocate.

The announcement of the Homicide Victim Funeral Assistance (HVFA) program was made at City Hall with the attendance of Mayor Cherell L. Parker, City Council President Kenyatta Johnson, Chief Public Safety Director Adam N. Geer, Victim Advocate Adara L. Combs, Deputy Director of the Office of the Victim Advocate Heather Arias and other stakeholders and advocates from the victim/witness community and end-of-life services industry.

“This program is a compassionate and thoughtful step forward in the City’s commitment to support those impacted by violence—another demonstration of our One Philly values in action,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “Too often, the enormous cost of a funeral comes at the worst possible moment, when families are already facing emotional and structural challenges and need to lay a loved one to rest with dignity. We asked ourselves: what can the City do right now to ease that burden? The Homicide Victim Funeral Assistance program is our response—offering immediate support to reduce financial strain, and reaffirming our commitment to take care of our own.”

“The Homicide Victim Funeral Assistance program reflects our shared responsibility to stand with families in their darkest hour,” said Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson (Second District). “When a loved one is taken by violence in Philadelphia, no family should have to worry about how they will afford to lay them to rest with dignity and respect. Through the leadership of the Philadelphia City Council and in partnership with Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and the Office of Public Safety, we allocated $600,000 annually to ensure this support is there when it is needed most.  The Homicide Victim Funeral Assistance program is one way to make sure that every family, regardless of income, has the opportunity to properly honor their loved one and begin the healing process.”

As a result of collaborative and diligent advocacy and through the leadership of City Council, the City allocated $600,000 for the HVFA program fund annually. Together with Commonwealth assistance programs like the Pennsylvania Victims Compensation Assistance Program, victims’ families can now apply for up to $8,500 in total aid between the city and state funding.

“Funerals provide a necessary focal point for processing grief and galvanizing healing following the loss of a loved one to something as traumatic as homicide,” said Chief Public Safety Director Geer. “With the national median cost of funeral with a viewing and a burial at more than $8,000, that cost places this basic rite-of-passage and fundamental tenant of many faiths out of reach for the average Philadelphian. We are doing what we can to bring some measure of peace to a population that is keenly in need of support.”

“Today we are launching more than a program. We are launching a commitment — that when violence takes a life in Philadelphia, this City will stand with the family not only in thoughts and prayers, but in tangible, timely support,” said Appointed City of Philadelphia Victim Advocate Adara L. Combs, Esq.

“Losing my son Justin to gun violence shattered my very existence. Being forced to navigate costly arrangements without any assistance added a weight that nearly broke me—emotionally, financially, and spiritually—and left me feeling judged and unsupported in the very city where I built my family, the so‑called City of Brotherly Love,” said victim advocate Darlene Wilson-Bennett.

Ms. Wilson-Bennett’s daughter and co-victim who stood with her during the announcement, Destiny Sistrunk, said, “Growing up in the city of brotherly love, I could have never imagined having to bury my brother Justin. Justin wasn’t lost. Justin was taken from me and my family — without warning and without financial assistance. With the city now being able to provide homicide co-victims with some funding for funerals upfront, I pray the heavy burdens they will inevitably endure, might be just a little lighter.”

To minimize the likelihood of re-traumatizing victims, the program is designed so that victims’ families need not manage the paperwork for payment or reimbursement directly if the burden is too overwhelming. Instead, referrals may be submitted by stakeholder partners directly to the OPS Office of the Victim Advocate, by funeral service vendors during their engagement with the family, or by a community member directly contacting the office to access funding support. Determination will be made within 48 hours and next of kin will be notified. Once approved, payments are made directly to the vendor for services rendered.

Eligibility requirements for the HVFA program include the manner of death being ruled a homicide by the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office (preclusions include death by suicide, accident, or overdose); the incident occurring within the boundaries of the City of Philadelphia; the incident occurring after the official program launch date (not retroactive). If the death is deemed suspicious, eligibility will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Inquiries may be sent to OVAfuneralfund@phila.gov or by calling the Office of the Victim Advocate at (215)686-2115.