Our statistics are purely reflective of only the clients we serve, not all 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

DVSBF provides services to any survivor 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.

DVSBF also prides itself on having a “screen-in” not a “screen-out” policy. As such we provide shelter services to all intimate partner survivors of domestic violence – especially survivors that are historically marginalized and undeserved such as survivors with disabilities, mental health diagnosis and chemical dependency issues.

DVSBF also provides shelter services for clients with service animals, and for pets as well!

statistics-image

In 2014, DVSBF provided the following services:

  • 915 individuals and families
  • 268 domestic violence survivors and their children stayed in the shelter: 109 women, 155 children, 4 men.
  • 5,540 bednights provided.
  • Answered 1,881 crisis calls on 24-hour crisis line;
  • Provided legal advocacy to 650 clients – 607 with civil legal advocacy, 518 with criminal justice advocacy.
  • Assisted with 218 protection orders;
  • Assisted 243 clients with housing assistance;
  • 173 individuals attended support groups for a total of 1,459 hours.
  • Over 3,000 hours of education & training provided to volunteers and community.

2012 Client Demographics:

Residential Clients:

  • 49% white; 38% Hispanic; 7% African-American; 3% Native-American; 2% Asian; 1% Other.
  • 97% female; 3% male
  • <1% Under 18yo; 14% 18-21yo; 69% 22-44yo; 12% 45-54yo; 5% 55-Over.

Non-Residential Clients:

  • 49% white; 43% Hispanic; 4% African-American; 4% Other.
  • 96% female; 4% male
  • 1% Under 18yo; 16% 18-24yo; 81% 25-59yo; 2% Over 60;

The average number of clients served annually (over the last 8 years) is:

  • 330 domestic violence survivors and their children stay in the shelter: 155 women, 170 children, 4 men.
  • Provide 5,300 bednights.
  • Answer 11,000 calls on 24-hour crisis line;*
  • Provided legal advocacy to 1,000 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!)

 

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

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

American Bar Association