Support for Domestic Violence Survivors

The Lutheran Settlement House proposes to implement the Support for Domestic Violence Survivors program. The purpose of this program is to help meet the needs of domestic violence survivors, which have increased by 30 percent since the pandemic. Through this project, survivors will have increased access to counseling and housing support so they can establish and sustain their lives away from abusive partners. The project also increases screening and referrals for domestic violence by supporting the work of Medical Advocates in Philadelphia hospitals, an important point of contact for many who are experiencing domestic violence.

Domestic and relational violence is alarmingly common and widespread in Philadelphia. According to Shared Safety Philadelphia, each year, the Philadelphia Police Department responds to more than 100,000 emergency 9-1-1 calls related to domestic issues. Between 2017 and 2020 there were 95 DV homicides in Philadelphia; of those, nearly 70% were intimate partner homicides. In fiscal year 2022, the Philadelphia Domestic Violence Hotline, managed by Lutheran Settlement House and three partner agencies, received 10,938 calls from more than 2,200 individuals. Domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness for women and children in the United States. In most cities, the homeless service system is ill-equipped to meet the varied and unique needs of DV survivors, and, as the cost of housing continues to rise, survivors need specialized support to access safe housing and begin rebuilding their lives.

Support for Domestic Violence Survivors will benefit people experiencing domestic violence. This project specifically benefits the 2nd congressional district and the City of Philadelphia by strengthening critical services to support survivors of domestic violence, who are often put on waiting lists for help because there are not enough services and staff to help them immediately. Through this project, survivors will have increased access to counseling, housing support, and other needs so that they can establish and sustain their lives away from their abusive partner.

The successes of Lutheran Settlement House are driven by its staff. By securing the services of Medical Advocates and an additional counselor, Lutheran Settlement House will help more people, and more quickly respond to their needs. In an organization that deals with people in crisis, time counts. Lutheran Settlement House regularly sees survivors flourish with the right support services and go on to mentor those who are going through what they once experienced.