April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. According to Diana Ortiz, Doorways President and CEO, the number of survivors and their children sheltered by Doorways has more than doubled in the past five years. Since 1978 Doorways has provided Arlington’s only emergency shelter for individuals and families who are homeless due to fleeing domestic and sexual violence. 

According to statistics provided by 18th annual Domestic Violence Report provided by the National Network to End Domestic Violence, 1,786 victims were served by programs participating in the national count of services on Sept. 6, 2023. This report documents the number of people and the kind of services received in a 24-hour period on a national level. Local statistics were included in the national daily count.

The report detailed 1,045 adult and child victims of domestic abuse found in emergency shelters and other housing, 741 adult and child victims who received non-residential supportive services related to transportation, legal services and more. 

In addition, domestic hotlines received 464 contacts averaging more than 19 contacts per hour. Programs provided 34 educational sessions and trainings to 558 members of the public focusing on domestic violence and early intervention.

However, victims made 123 requests for services that programs could not provide because they lacked sufficient resources. 

In addition, Doorways has provided local statistics for the entire year including 29 hospital accompaniments, answered 1,411 calls to the 24-hour hotline, assisted 360 adults and children through court advocacy, sheltered 212 adults and children including their pets and provided counseling to 236 adults, youth and children. 

Ortiz says, “We are on track to break records again this year. Doorways Safehouse operated at 211% capacity during the first quarter of fiscal year 2023 sheltering 61 survivors experiencing homelessness—more than half of the total number sheltered all of last fiscal year.” 

She explains, “Sources of funding including the federal Victims of Crime Act, have decreased significantly. But we recently secured $1.5 million in funding for our SafeStart program from the Community Development Block Grant Program through the Congressional request of Congressman Don Beyer. This will help Doorways secure the additional units we need to continue fulfilling our promise of safe housing for all.”