Mayor Cherelle L. Parker on Wednesday rolled out a new Homicide Victim Funeral Assistance Program that will cover up to $2,000 in funeral and burial costs for families of people killed in Philadelphia. The benefit applies to deaths ruled homicides on or after March 1 and is meant to help survivors handle immediate, unavoidable bills while they are planning services and mourning.
The announcement was livestreamed and posted by the City of Philadelphia, and the full news conference video is available from City of Philadelphia Government. City officials said the new fund is designed to move quickly and offer targeted help for families who are suddenly forced to navigate funeral arrangements after a killing.
How the program will work
The Homicide Victim Funeral Assistance (HVFA) Program will cover up to $2,000 paid directly to funeral service providers, and officials said they plan to review applications within 48 hours. To qualify, families must show that the death occurred in Philadelphia and that the medical examiner or law enforcement has ruled the death a homicide. “Grief is not a bill you should have to carry alone,” Adam Geer, the city’s chief public safety director, said at the announcement, as reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Who will manage it
The program will be managed by the city’s Office of the Victim Advocate, part of the Office of Public Safety, which coordinates support for people affected by violent crime. Leaders at OVA have been building out a wider network of victim services and will be responsible for taking applications and sending payments from the fund, according to the Office of Public Safety.
How it fits with state aid
Pennsylvania’s crime victims compensation program already allows reimbursement of funeral-related expenses up to $6,500, so the city’s $2,000 contribution is intended as immediate, short-term relief while families pull together other resources. The state rules spell out which funeral and burial costs can be covered and set the $6,500 limit, according to the Pennsylvania Code.
Budget and timing
The Parker administration included funeral expense assistance in its proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, describing it as one of several investments in new victim services. The FY26 proposal puts $600,000 toward funeral expense assistance under the Office of Public Safety, according to the Mayor’s office.
How to apply
Families can start applying for help on March 1. The city has set up a dedicated phone line and email address for questions and applications. For more information or to apply after March 1, call 215-686-2115 or email [email protected], as reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer. Staff said they intend to move quickly on claims and send money directly to funeral homes so families are not stuck fronting the costs.
Advocates note that $2,000 will usually not cover the full price of a funeral, but say it can remove a financial hurdle that often forces families to borrow money or delay services, a recurring hardship for many survivors of homicide victims. Mayor Parker framed the effort as an attempt to back up sympathy with something tangible. “I get so tired of telling people that ... our thoughts and prayers are with you,” she said at the news conference, according to the city video available from City of Philadelphia Government.
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