In the United States, domestic violence and sexual assault impact hundreds of people every day. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, someone experiences physical abuse from their intimate partner in the United States every three seconds. More than 80 million Americans have also experienced psychological aggression posed by an intimate partner at some point in their lives.
Domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking can be emotionally and physically destructive – but fortunately, many organizations provide essential services to protect and empower victims. Forms of intimate partner violence can displace people from their homes, leading to increased rates of homelessness across the country. Finding healing in the midst of what can be an isolating, frightening time is a massive challenge that usually requires a delicate balance of access to physical resources and emotional support from loved ones and trained professionals.
There are currently over 12,000 victim services providers across the nation that work to prevent violence and assault and support victims. Many states and territories have assembled sexual assault and domestic violence coalitions to align initiatives across local governments, nonprofits, and community organizations.
Victim services programs often rely on federal and state funding, and donor support. According to the Grants.gov website, hundreds of grants for domestic violence and victim services are currently available in the United States.
