NNEDV to Release Results of 18th Annual Domestic Violence Counts Report during Bipartisan Congressional Briefing
March 20, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: NNEDV Communications Team (Communications@NNEDV.org)
Washington, DC – Today, the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) will release the findings from its 18th Annual Domestic Violence Counts Report during a bipartisan Congressional briefing at 2:00 PM ET on Capitol Hill.
The briefing will be held in conjunction with Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Gwen Moore (D-WI), and Ann Wagner (R-MO). It will feature remarks from Hema Sarang-Sieminski, of Jane Doe, Inc., the Massachusetts Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault; Krittika Ghosh, of the Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project; and Savanna, a domestic violence survivor and member of Sisters Overcoming Abusive Relationships (SOAR).
For the eighteenth consecutive year, on September 6, 2023, NNEDV conducted the Domestic Violence Counts Survey: a one-day, unduplicated count of adults and children seeking domestic violence services in the United States. Each year, the Domestic Violence Counts Report summarizes this data and is instrumental in raising awareness about domestic violence and the incredible work local domestic violence programs do every day, providing lifesaving services to survivors and their families.
“Each year, the Domestic Violence Counts Report shares stories of both hope and despair—from advocates connecting domestic violence survivors and their children with lifesaving assistance, to programs being forced to turn away survivors who urgently need help,” said Dr. Wendy B. Mahoney, NNEDV Interim President & CEO. “We tell these stories to inform and educate the public and policymakers at all levels of government about survivors’ and programs’ needs and to shine a spotlight on the steps that must be taken to create change.”
The 18th Annual Domestic Violence Counts Report found that, on September 6, 2023, 76,975 adult and child victims of domestic violence received lifesaving services from local programs, including emergency shelter, housing, and supportive services related to transportation, legal support, therapy, and more.
“On just one day last year, over 2,000 survivors of domestic violence received vital services from programs throughout my home state of Missouri. These programs provide shelter, legal support, therapy, and other necessary resources to vulnerable individuals suffering from this awful crime,” said Representative Ann Wagner (R-MO). “As shown in the Domestic Violence Counts Report, the Crime Victims Fund that supports these programs is at dangerously low levels. In Congress, I am fighting every day to ensure this shortfall is properly addressed so these programs can continue to assist survivors.”
Tragically, on that same day, local programs could not meet 13,335 service requests because they lacked sufficient resources. The majority of these unmet requests (54%) were for emergency shelter, hotels, motels, transitional housing, and other housing that can help victims escape abuse and begin to rebuild their lives.
“I am incredibly thankful to the National Network to End Domestic Violence for providing an annual report on the status of survivors in the United States. In particular, I appreciate their effort to highlight the supportive services reaching survivors and their children in Wisconsin,” said Representative Gwen Moore (D-WI). “I will continue to champion robust funding for the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) and the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) as they provide critical services like emergency and traditional housing, culturally specific outreach, the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and more—which are often the difference between life and death.”
Despite their tireless efforts, domestic violence advocates and programs simply do not have enough resources. NNEDV urges Congress and the Biden-Harris administration to:
Restore steady funding for Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants.
Invest in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA), and domestic violence housing and related funding in the federal Fiscal Year 2024 funding process.
Robustly implement the U.S. National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence across all federal agencies, with stakeholder input.
Advance survivor-centered legislation and Administration policies that create access to safe, affordable housing; promote economic justice and financial security; advance reproductive justice and health care; reduce domestic violence homicides and community violence; and protect immigrant survivors of violence.
“I was proud to champion the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), but there is still progress that needs to be made in the protection of individuals from domestic violence,” said Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). “I am grateful for the work of the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) and their Domestic Violence Counts Report in bringing awareness to the work that needs to be done to protect vulnerable groups and ensure no one is denied services of support they are seeking. I look forward to continuing to work with NNEDV to end domestic violence and support survivors.”
Learn more in the 18th Annual Domestic Violence Counts Report and sign up for NNEDV’s emails to learn how you can get involved and take action.
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The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) represents the 56 state and U.S. territorial coalitions against domestic violence. NNEDV is a social change organization working to create a social, political, and economic environment in which domestic violence no longer exists. NNEDV works to make domestic violence a national priority, change the way society responds to domestic violence, and strengthen domestic violence advocacy at every level.