WASHINGTON, DC — As Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) begins, the government shutdown casts a dark and threatening cloud over survivors of domestic violence. DVAM is meant to raise awareness about domestic violence, honor survivors, and educate the community about domestic violence. This year, because of the government shutdown, it begins under the threat of funding delays, program closures, and devastating consequences for survivors and their children.
During October, the #Every1KnowsSome1 campaign reminds us that domestic violence is widespread. According to the CDC, nearly half of all adults in the United States have experienced abuse by an intimate partner. The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV)’s 19th Annual Domestic Violence Counts Report revealed that, on just one day in 2024, nearly 80,000 survivors sought help from local domestic violence programs.
However, this October, instead of focusing solely on prevention and awareness, programs are also fighting to keep their doors open, as most rely on federal funds to operate. With a shutdown, funding delays leave shelters and hotlines with limited resources to stay staffed and open. Programs that already run on shoestring budgets cannot float these costs, meaning survivors and their children will be turned away at the very moment they are reaching out for help.
“Safety is urgent, every single day,” said Tonia Moultry-Pace, NNEDV Interim President & CEO. “When funding stops or is delayed, programs face impossible choices: turning survivors away, reducing services, or closing shelter beds. Survivors and their children should never pay the price for a government shutdown.”
Domestic violence is not rare or distant. The CDC reports that, in the year leading up to its National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, an estimated 17 million people were harmed by physical violence, sexual violence, or stalking from a partner. A shutdown only magnifies these risks.
This October, NNEDV and our 56 state and territorial member coalitions mark DVAM with the #Every1KnowsSome1 campaign, a reminder that domestic violence affects nearly half of adults across the country and that everyone knows someone who has experienced abuse. DVAM should be a month of unity and action against domestic violence, not a time when programs are scrambling to stay open.
“The critical issue of domestic violence is undeniably a profound community problem. The reality is that all of us know someone who has been or is currently experiencing abuse in their relationships. The widespread impact of domestic violence extends far beyond individual households. It significantly affects various institutions, including business, schools, and churches, leading to decreased productivity, absentism, and an overall decline in well-being,” Moultry-Pace continued. “Standing with survivors and their children means raising awareness, but also ensuring that lifesaving services are fully and reliably funded, so that help is there when survivors need it most.”
We invite you to be active throughout the month, learn about domestic violence, and support survivors. Everyone can get involved and support survivors this DVAM. Key highlights include:
Calls to Action:
Call on the Administration and Congress to work together toward a bipartisan solution that ensures lifesaving services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault without compromising healthcare for survivors. Survivors, children, and advocates need stability, not shutdowns. (See our call script here.)
Join the Campaign:
Check out the messaging toolkit, available in both English and Spanish.
Post on social media using #Every1KnowsSome1 as we share stories, resources, and messages of hope, spread the word, and create a united front against domestic violence.
Follow NNEDV on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Purple Thursday (October 16):
Wear purple to show your support of domestic violence survivors and spark conversations with people you know, showing your commitment to ending abuse.
Share a selfie on social media with #PurpleThursday #DVAM #Every1KnowsSomeone.
DVAM Day of Giving (October 23):
Make a gift to NNEDV on the official DVAM Day of Giving or any day throughout the month. Every amount helps.
Browse our program directory and make a gift to your local domestic violence shelter or coalition.
Sign up for your own fundraiser to encourage friends and family to support survivors all month! Every gift makes a difference for survivors as they rebuild their lives free from abuse.
For more information on the #Every1KnowsSome1 campaign, please visit GiveForDV.NNEDV.org.
The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) represents the 56 state and U.S. territorial coalitions against domestic violence. NNEDV is a social change organization working to create a social, political, and economic environment in which domestic violence no longer exists. NNEDV works to make domestic violence a national priority, change the way society responds to domestic violence, and strengthen domestic violence advocacy at every level.