In a single day, US domestic violence programs served 53,304
The 2007 National Census of Domestic Violence Services -- which collected reports on the delivery and demand for services in a single 24-hour period from 69 percent of identified domestic violence programs in the US -- found that in one day, 53,303 domestic violence victims received services from local programs, while over 7,000 requests for services were not met due to staff and funding shortages. Approximately 61 percent of unmet requests were for emergency shelter and transitional housing.
Of the individuals receiving
services, more than 25,000 adults and children were housed in emergency
shelters or transitional housing, and nearly 28,000 adults and children
received non-residential services, including individual counseling, legal
advocacy, and children’s support groups. Domestic violence hotlines across the
country answered a total of 20,528 calls -- an average of 14 calls a minute.
"Given
the dangerous and potentially lethal nature of many victims'
circumstances," the report concludes
…insufficient funding of domestic violence programs and services should be acknowledged as a serious barrier to those seeking help and safety. Domestic violence programs across the country struggle every day to serve victims who contact them. However, the reality is that with limited resources, funding and staffing, these programs are unable to meet the needs of every victim who calls or comes to their doors seeking help.
The Bush administration's proposed FY'09 Federal Budget includes a $120 million
funding cut from the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and maintains the Family
Violence Prevention Services Act at the current level of $122.6 million -- $52
million less than the authorized amount.
Now in its second year, the national domestic violence services census is a project of the National Network to End Domestic Violence. More results from the 2007 survey are available in the national summary and full report. A chart of service delivery and demand for each state and territory is also available on the NNEDV web site.
