dv counts 2008

On September 17, 2008, 1,553 out of 2,000 local domestic violence programs across the United States participated in the National Census of Domestic Violence Services (NCDVS). The following figures represent information provided by the participating programs about services they provided during the 24-hour survey period.

"We are the only shelter in an area of over 89,000 miles. Clients arrive at our door in freezing temperatures becasue they have nowhere else to go. We are an essential part of this community."

- Alaska DV program

During the survey period, 60,799 adults and children requested and received services from the 1,553 local domestic violence programs that were able to participate in the Census. Since this is 78% of local domestic violence programs in the U.S., it does not represent the total number of victims seeking services nationwide. Participating programs reported that 8,927 requests for services from adults and children went unmet due to a lack of sufficient resources. Also, during the survey period participating programs answered 21,683 hotline calls from victims and their loved ones, and provided prevention and education sessions to 30,210 members of the community.

HISTORY

For the third consecutive year, the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) conducted the National Census of Domestic Violence Services (Census). Designed to protect the safety and confidentiality of victims, the Census collects an unduplicated count of adults and children seeking domestic violence services during a single 24-hour period.

"On September 17, 2008 a woman sought a protection order from her ex-husband who had been released on parole after being in jail for 9 years. When the judge asked her if she was still afraid of him she replied, "Yes. The only reason I'm still alive today is because his gun jammed. "

"On September 17, 2008 a woman in North Carolina learned that her abuser will only get 3 months of probation despite breaking her arm and threatening her life."

In total, 1,553 out of 2,000 identified primary purpose local domestic violence programs participated in the survey, representing an impressive return rate of 78%. Since some local programs did not participate in the 2008 survey, this Census provides a powerful glimpse but remains an undercount of the actual number of victims who sought and received services from local domestic violence programs nationwide.

VICTIMS SERVED

On the survey day in September 2008, 60,799 adults and children were served by 1,553 local domestic violence programs across the United States. During the 24-hour survey period more than 30,400 victims of domestic violence received housing services from a domestic violence program, either in emergency shelters or transitional housing. An additional 30,366 victims received non-residential services such as support groups, children's counseling, and legal advocacy.

20,307 adults and children found refuge in emergency domestic violence shelters.
10,126 adults and children were living in transitional housing programs, designed specifically for domestic violence survivors.
30,366 adults and children sought non-residential advocacy and services such as individual counseling, legal advocacy, and children's support groups.

"A woman who didn't speak English very well was afraid of being alone during the birth of her child. We were able to give her a baby shower, childcare, and during her delivery, two of our staff and one volunteer were with her ."

- Georgia DV program

LIMITED RESOURCES

Despite the incredible efforts of domestic violence programs, 8,927 requests for services were unmet on the survey day because of a lack of resources - from limited funds for critical services to not enough shelter space to insufficient program staff.

"We are limiting healthcare plans, reducing 401K contribution, and cutting staff from 3 full-time positions to 1 or 2 part-time. We're losing staff to the private sector which offers better salaries, better benefits, and pensions. "

- a New York DV program

During the 24-hour survey period:

3,286 requests for emergency shelter went unmet,
1,586 requests for transitional housing went unmet, and
4,055 requests for non-residential services went unmet.

Programs cited "not enough funding" as the number one reason they were unable to serve victims on the survey day. Thirty (30) percent of domestic violence programs reported budgets of less than $350,000 a year.

HOTLINE CALLS

Domestic violence hotlines provide critical support and information for victims in danger. When victims of domestic violence and their family members call 24-hour emergency hotlines, it is often their first time seeking help and receiving crucial support from a local domestic violence program. During the survey period, participating programs reported that local and state hotline advocates answered 20,658 calls and the National Domestic Violence Hotline answered 1,025 calls. In total, advocates responded to 21,683 hotline calls in the 24-hour survey period, which equals more than 14 hotline calls every minute.

"I spoke with a woman on our intake hotline who was in crisis. She felt unsafe in her home, overwhelmed, and had many questions about orders of protection, small claims court, and counseling. I stayed on the phone with her for over an hour, making sure she got all the information she needed. By the end of the call, she was feeling better and thanked me for my concern and help."

- New York DV program

WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES

Local domestic violence programs provide a wide range of services for victims seeking support and advocacy, including, but well beyond emergency shelter. Domestic violence programs provide one-on-one advocacy for individuals as well as group advocacy. Individual advocacy includes one-on-one counseling, case management, safety planning, job counseling and training, housing support, legal services, accompaniments, and other services provided for individuals.

Group advocacy includes support groups for adults or children, group job-training and financial skills programs, group counseling services, and more; is usually moderated by staff, volunteers or peers; and is attended only by survivors.

PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION

Because outreach and education are essential to ending violence, domestic violence programs offer training to their communities as part of their mission.

On the Census Day:

Participating programs provided 1,455 Training and education sessions to the community.
30,210individuals in communities across the United States attended training and education sessions.

CONCLUSION

The National Census of Domestic Violence Services, administered by the National Network to End Domestic Violence, revealed that 60,799 adults and children in the United States received services and support from 1,553 local domestic violence programs during a 24-hour period in September 2008. While a great number of domestic violence victims accessed and received services, a total of 8,927 requests by victims for services went unmet due to inadequate funding and resources for local domestic violence programs. During this one day, advocates in programs across the country were able to

Assist a woman in Pennsylvania in obtaining a 3 year protection order after she was held at knife point for a day, during which the abuser broke her ribs and blackened her eyes.
Give shelter to a woman and her 2 teenage boys in Texas after they fled the abuser and were living in her car for a week.
Provide funds to buy a bus ticket for a woman in Illinois to go home after her abuser dumped her by the interstate with no money or shoes.
Keep a woman in Arkansas safe in an emergency shelter until she could be reunited with her family after he abuser threatened to shoot her in the head and attach her protection order to the hole in her head.
Provide a woman in Kansas with a safe place to stay, clothing, and community resources after her abuser burned down her house.
Help a father in Illinois obtain a protection order on behalf of his daughter who had been critically injured by her boyfriend.

This unmet demand highlights the need for additional funding and support. Given the dangerous and potentially lethal nature of many victims' circumstances, 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 everyday 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.