The nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that stands up for crime victims in their hour of need is itself about to be victimized by the budget fight in Harrisburg. The supply lines that keep lifelines open for those devastated by child abuse, rape, assault, elder abuse and more have been cut off by stalemated politicians, and very soon the Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County will have nowhere to turn.

“Now entering the fourth month without a state budget is taking its toll,” the organization announced. “CVC is in dire financial straits.”

With 76 percent of its $1.78 million in annual funding being withheld by lawmakers, by last week CVC had exhausted all cash and maxed out a $100,000 line of credit and a $10,000 credit card — and is struggling to operate without three staff members who left in the midst of the crisis.

“At present, we cannot afford to replace them, so present staff are completely overwhelmed and stressed.”

For 42 years, CVC has sent professionally trained, sensitive counselors and advocates to hospital emergency rooms, police stations, schools and courtrooms 24 hours a day and seven days a week from its offices in West Chester, Coatesville, Kennett Square, Phoenixville, Oxford, New Garden Township and West Grove.

Without it, 5,000 victims a year will be left to fend for themselves, and 40,000 people of all ages will miss the vital warnings that could keep them from becoming future victims.

“Child abuse victims will go without counseling, rape victims will have to undergo forensic exams without a victim advocate nearby, an elder abuse victim will have no one to advocate for her or him, and school children will not have the opportunity to learn how to minimize their risks of becoming victims or to disclose abuse to one of our trained presenters.”

The only hope left, it said, is for politicians, foundations and individual donors to stand up and fill the gap.

“We need a solution now,” CVC pleaded.