Over 5,000 Victims Served in One Day – Hundreds of Victims Needs Unmet
Austin, Texas — March 8, 2010 — A snapshot of the “State of Domestic Violence in Texas” captured in a new survey released today by the National Network to End Domestic Violence shows many domestic violence programs across Texas have a critical shortage of funds and staff to assist victims in need of services.
The 24-Hour Census of Domestic Violence Shelters and Services shows that nearly 100 programs across the state are serving thousands of victims every day in Texas.
On September 15, 2009, the day of the survey, more than 5,000 victims of domestic violence were served in one day.
Texans in need found refuge in emergency shelters, transitional housing and received assistance and services, including individual counseling, legal advocacy and children’s support.
Every hour — hotlines, which are a lifeline to victims in danger, provided support, information and safety planning to 83 callers totaling nearly 2,000 callers in a 24-hour period.
But, the one-day survey also shows that nearly 800 requests for domestic violence services were unmet because local programs were unable to provide services because there was not enough funding or staff to handle the requests for services.
” This report is extremely poignant in providing a snapshot into domestic violence services in Texas and in every state across the country,” said Gloria A. Terry, TCFV’s president. “The survey shows that Texans are doing a great job serving thousands of victims of domestic violence in Texas everyday, but, it also shows we must continue to work to secure additional funds for victims of domestic violence in Texas.”
90 out of 103, or 87% of identified local domestic violence programs in Texas participated in the 2009 National Census of Domestic Violence Services.
###
The National Census of Domestic Violence Services (Census) is an annual noninvasive, unduplicated count of adults and children who seek services from U.S. domestic violence shelter programs during a single 24-hour survey period. Conducted annually by NNEDV since 2006, this Census takes into account the dangerous nature of domestic violence by using a survey designed to protect the confidentiality and safety of victims.
Texas Council on Family Violence is a statewide organization representing a network of domestic violence programs that provide direct services to victims and their families, and serves as the voice of victims at the state level while working with local communities to create strategies to prevent family violence. Visit us online at http://www.tcfv.org/