Domestic Violence Services
24 Hour Crisis Line & ShelterDVS Statistics
Our statistics are purely reflective of only the clients we serve, not all victims/survivors in our area.
There are many reasons why someone would not seek our services – lack of knowledge about services; fear of retaliation by abusive partner; fear of other systems such as CPS, law enforcement, and immigration; fear that we would not provide services to someone with a pet, a mental health diagnosis or a chemical dependency issue; fear that we would not serve a specific gender or sexual orientation; shelter may not be a safe option if abuser knows where it is or would not be deterred from finding her; or many other reasons for which we may not be aware.
DVS provides services to any victim of domestic violence regardless of immigration status, race, color, religion, disability, pregnancy, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, age, ethnicity, income, veteran status or any other basis prohibited by law.
DVS also prides itself on having a “screen-in” not a “screen-out” policy. As such we provide shelter services to all intimate partner victims of domestic violence – especially victims that are historically marginalized and undeserved such as victims with disabilities, mental health diagnosis and chemical dependency issues. DVS also provides shelter services for clients with service animals, and for pets as well!
In 2011, DVS provided the following services:
- 350 domestic violence victims and their children stayed in the shelter: 168 women, 155 children, 3 men.
- 6,156 bednights provided.
- Answered 8,804 calls on 24-hour crisis line;
- Provided legal advocacy to 921 clients; Assisted with 322 protection orders;
- Over 8,800 hours of advocacy;
- Over $7,800 in rental assistance provided;
- Over 3,000 hours of education & training provided to volunteers and community.
2009 Client Demographics:
Residential Clients:
- 50% white; 417% Hispanic; 3% African-American; 2% Native-American; 4% Other.
- 99% female; 1% male
- <1% Under 18yo; 11% 18-21yo; 74% 22-44yo; 12% 45-54yo; 3% 55-Over.
Non-Residential Clients:
- 52% white; 41% Hispanic; 3% African-American; 2% Other.
- 95% female; 5% male
- 1% Under 18yo; 17% 18-24yo; 80% 25-59yo; 2% Over 60;
The average number of clients served annually (over the last 8 years) is:
- 330 domestic violence victims and their children stay in the shelter: 155 women, 170 children, 5 men.
- Provide 5,500 bednights.
- Answer 10,000 calls on 24-hour crisis line;*
- Provided legal advocacy to 925 clients; Assisted with 320 protection orders.**
* The reduction in crisis line calls is most likely a result of the phone line for our administrative office being more readily advertised and utilized.
** Our ability to provide services to non-residential clients is impacted by our staff levels – the more advocates we have the more clients we are able to serve. (The need for services has always out exceeded the limited availability of our outreach staff!)
2009 Washington State Emergency Domestic Violence Shelter and Advocacy Services
Useful Resources for Stats:
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
National Network to End Domestic Violence
Family Violence Prevention Fund
Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Washington State Violence Against Women Network
