National Network to End Domestic Violence releases annual statistics

National Network to End Domestic Violence releases annual statistics

 

For the ninth annual year, on September 10 the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) conducted a one-day unduplicated count of adults and children seeking domestic violence service in the United States. This census documents the number of individuals who sought services in a single 24-hour period.

 

On that day in North Dakota there were 32 requests for services including emergency shelter, transitional housing and non-residential services, which could not be provided because programs did not have the resources. Out of these unmet requests 22% were for housing.

 

“Our programs are continually asked to do more with less which is unrealistic. Victims are turned away every day because our shelters are full and understaffed and we know they are either going back to live with their abusive partner or are forced into homelessness. This can’t continue,” said Janelle Moos, CAWS North Dakota’s Executive Director.

 

In North Dakota there have been 11 staff positions eliminated in the past year; most of these positions were direct services, such as shelter or legal advocates, so there were fewer advocates to answer calls for help. Nine individual services at local programs were reduced or eliminated in the past year.

 

Across the country, there were 10,871 unmet requests for services on that day, of which 56% were for housing. The most frequently requested nonresidential services that could not be provided were housing advocacy, legal representation and financial assistance.

 

“Domestic violence programs and shelters across the country are operating with less funding, fewer resources, and even fewer staff. The economic environment of the last few years has resulted in a combination of fewer grants, fewer donations from the community and reduced government funds at every level. This shortage of resources within domestic violence programs has been compounded by a reduction in funding for other social services upon which victims often rely, such as low-income housing, mental health services and more,” stated NNEDV.

 

In the 24-hour survey period in the United States there were 67,646 victims served and 20,845 local and state hotline calls answered by staff.

 

In North Dakota 375 victims were served on this day. A total of 160 domestic violence victims (78 children and 82 adults) found refuge in emergency shelters or transitional housing provided by local domestic violence programs. There were 215 adults and children who received non-residential assistance and services, including counseling, legal advocacy and children’s support groups, as well as 109 hotline calls answered.

 

According to NNEDV, out of 1,916 identified domestic violence programs in the United States 1,697 participated in the 2014 National Census of Domestic Violence Services. In North Dakota 19 out of 20 identified local domestic violence programs participated.

 

For more information about these statistics or the complete count, go to nnedv.org/census.

 

 

 

SAFETY ALERT: If you are in danger, please use a safer computer, call 911, a local hotline, the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or the U.S. National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.Escape
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