Did You Know?
Sad Facts About the Level of Domestic Violence in This Area and in the Nation
It’s one of life’s ironies that one of the wealthiest areas in the United States – Loudoun County -- nevertheless suffers from a growing number of incidences of domestic violence in our communities. Domestic violence is not merely a problem of the poor and disadvantaged: women and children (and yes, men) of all socio-economic backgrounds can be victims of abuse. Consider the following:
- LAWS answers 650+ crisis calls every year: nearly two new cases per day!
- Approximately 1500 persons are served each year by LAWS through shelter, counseling, support groups, legal services and prevention programs.
- Over 300 women receive some form of legal counsel through LAWS, including being accompanied to the courthouse by a lawyer who can represent and advise them in real-time.
- More than 95 women and children take shelter at our 12-bed facility. At least 40 others must be turned away due to overcrowding.
- 350+ women receive LAWS counseling services, either individually or in group sessions.
- Through our new Child Advocacy Center and other programs, LAWS helps over 250 children and teen victims of domestic violence -- many of whom have, themselves, been abused
- More than 160 rape and sexual assault victims receive assistance and support from LAWS’ professional on-staff counselors.
Nationally the numbers and statistics* are even more astounding!
- One in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime and most cases will never be reported to the police.
- An estimated 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year.
- 85% of domestic violence victims are women.
- 30% to 60% of perpetrators of intimate partner violence also abuse children in the household
- Witnessing violence between one’s parents or caretakers is the strongest risk factor of transmitting violent behavior from one generation to the next.
- In 70-80% of intimate partner homicides, no matter which partner was killed, the man physically abused the woman before the murder.
- Intimate partner violence results in more than 18.5 million mental health care visits each year.
- Victims of intimate partner violence lost almost 8 million days of paid work (the equivalent of 32,000 full time jobs) because of the violence perpetrated against them by current or former husbands, boyfriends and dates.
ABOUT LAWS
Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter was founded in 1984 by three Loudoun County women, incorporated as Loudoun Citizens for Social Justice and otherwise referred to as LAWS for business purposes. We are a private, non-profit agency with a volunteer Board of Directors that provides leadership, oversight, fundraising, advocacy, and accountability.
Over the past 26 years, LAWS has grown from a small, shelter-based emergency response entity to one of the most comprehensive and holistic domestic violence and sexual assault programs in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Today, with an annual operating budget of $1.1 million and through a dedicated team of 29 staff and more than 70 volunteers, LAWS provides essential services to hundreds of children, families and other individuals in need. These services include:
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
On Saturday, October 16th, 2010, LAWS will hold its annual Fundraising Gala. Each year we hold this fundraising event to raise funds to help augment the monies we receive through government grants, charitable organizations, and individual donors. This year’s theme is “Raise the Roof” for the Shelter. A percentage of funds raised will be allocated to building or purchasing a larger shelter, doubling our capacity to assist abuse victims via recovery housing.
For additional information, contact our Gala Chair, Paula Grace Halewski, at paula@lawsraisetheroof.com (please place Raise the Roof in the subject line). |
