Every 9 Seconds 2020

Every 9 seconds a woman in the U.S. is abused. You can help build a way out.

Every upheaval we are experiencing during this pandemic disproportionately impacts the most vulnerable, not the least of which are survivors of domestic violence. For survivors, home is often not a safe place to be.

There is no vaccine for intimate partner violence. Forced coexistence and economic pressures have resulted in domestic violence increasing at alarmingly high rates since March. And it is harder than ever for survivors to leave their abusers because they have fewer safe places to go. Friends and family may not be in a position to help because of social distancing.

But you can help.

YWCA is here for survivors. You can be too.

YWCA Evanston/North Shore has continued to serve survivors of domestic violence throughout this pandemic. In the spring, they moved survivors from their shelter to local hotel rooms to increase safety, They equipped their support staff with the technology to answer crisis line calls remotely and deliver counseling and trauma support virtually. In June, they were able to reopen their legal advocacy office at the Skokie Courthouse, and they have continued to provide longer-term housing and employment support services to survivors and their children throughout this pandemic.

Now YWCA is in the process of building a new family support center so they can serve double the number of survivors and their children by next summer.

Many of the women who find shelter under their roof, and/or call YWCA for safety planning, counseling, and trauma support are essential workers who have continued going to work in front line jobs, often at great risk to themselves and their families.

Survivors of domestic violence need your help now more than ever.