Domestic violence is any emotional, physical or sexual abuse by a household member, often by a partner. Rather than being an isolated event, domestic violence tends to recur and to increase in severity over time. Without intervention domestic violence will continue.

 

Today, as more and more communities are responding to the needs of victims, more and more victims are reaching out.

Victims of domestic violence often must wrestle with feelings of fear, loyalty, guilt and shame. Their children live in fear and are at high risk of becoming abusive adults and/or victims themselves. Because victims are often socially and geographically isolated, as well as financially dependent, many victims live out their lives in fear, unaware that help is available.