Domestic Violence

Domestice violence affects almost every family we see at Family Promise. While we are not specifically a DV shelter, we certainly do work with families who are recovering from the affects of abuse.

These statistics come from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

• 1 in 4 women experiences domestic abuse in her lifetime.
• 1.3 million women are assaulted by an intimate partner each year.
• Boys who witness domestic violence are twice as likely to abuse their own partners and children when they become adults.
• 92% of homeless women experienced severe physical or sexual assault at some point in their lives.
• Because a DV victim will leave her abuser multiple times before she finally escapes the violence, she and her children may experience multiple periods of homelessness.
• 46% of homeless women reported staying in an abusive relationship because they had nowhere to go.

People who live in abusive relationships suffer more than physical harm. The psychological damage pervades every part of their life - impairing judgment - and making the decisions of everyday life a challenge.

It's important that Family Promise volunteers understand the longterm and far-reaching impact of domestic violence on the families with whom we work. We must respond to both children and adults with great patience. Our social worker provides linkage to appropriate mental health agencies and outreach groups to help abuse victims recover from their experiences and move from victim to survivor.