President Biden’s Proposed Budget Provides Important Guidance to Domestic Violence Funding Priorities
For Release on March 16, 2023
AUSTIN, TX – The National Domestic Violence Hotline (The Hotline) expresses our profound appreciation for the investments in President Biden’s proposed fiscal year 2024 budget, which contains significant increases for critical domestic violence programs and services that help transform and expand systems and resources to better support survivors of domestic violence in the United States. This includes $27 million for The Hotline which is experiencing the highest call volume of its 27-year history. In 2022, The Hotline answered 446,000 calls, chats and texts from those impacted by relationship abuse— more than any other year. The Hotline answers the call to support and shift power back to those affected by relationship abuse and offers 24/7 services for survivors seeking validation, connection to resources, shelter and safety planning. The Hotline also supports the operations of StrongHearts Native Helpline which provides critical support to those in the Native Americans and Alaskan Natives.
Additional funding increases in the President’s budget are provided for The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA), which includes life-saving cash assistance, support for resource centers, and services specific to survivors at the intersection of housing instability, substance use coercion, and child welfare. FVPSA is the primary federal funding source dedicated to supporting emergency shelter and related assistance for survivors of domestic violence and their children. Funding for FVPSA is administered by the Family Violence Prevention and Services Program, a program of the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) of the US Department of Health and Human Services.
The Hotline and love is respect, its youth-oriented prevention helpline, has answered over 6.5 million calls, chats and texts (contacts) from people seeking support and safety since 1996. The need for services has increased to historic levels— in 2022, The Hotline’s contact volume increased by 25% from 2021, and the average daily contact volume is nearly two times higher than before the pandemic. The Hotline supports diverse populations with services provided by bilingual advocates who assist Spanish speaking contacts and through additional translation services in more than 200 languages as well as accessible services for the hearing disabled through our partnership with the Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services (ADWAS).
“We are grateful for the President Biden’s budget which provides thoughtful and much needed investments in programs that comprehensively support survivors, including The Hotline, to maintain and expand capacity in response to the increased demand for services,” said Katie Ray-Jones, CEO of the National Domestic Violence Hotline. “Survivors across this country are needing more support than ever and investments in life-saving resources like The Hotline are critical to ensure their path to a safer future.”
Funding has not kept pace with the rapidly increasing demand for services. The Hotline actively engages in fundraising from the private sector including contributions from individuals, foundations and corporate partners. However, federal investment is invaluable for The Hotline. It allows the organization to leverage funding from public and private partnerships to expand capacity and infrastructure in order to serve more survivors and grow its youth prevention and healthy relationships program, love is respect.
Every investment in survivor services saves lives. The Hotline urges the support of these vital programs.
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The National Domestic Violence Hotline envisions a world where all relationships are positive, healthy, and free from violence. If you or someone you know is experiencing relationship abuse in any form, help is available. The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides free, confidential support 24/7/365. Text START to 88788, call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), or chat with us online at TheHotline.org. You are not alone.