Domestic violence impacts all genders, all races — all people
Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is indiscriminate and one of the most pervasive threats to safety and wellbeing in the country. Patterns of coercive behavior by an abuser to control an intimate partner are often subtle and progress over time, including physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, and financial abuse. This unrelenting issue underscores the dire need to provide integrated multi-generational services for survivors.
- 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men experience domestic violence in their lifetime, regardless of their background (Centers for Disease Control).
- 1 in 7, or 15 million, children in the U.S. are affected by domestic violence each year (Centers for Disease Control).
- More than half (54%) of transgender or non-binary people experience domestic violence (National Center for Transgender Equality).
- 99% of domestic violence cases involve financial abuse, including forced job loss, damaged credit history and substantial debt (The Allstate Foundation).
- 58% of adult Californians are personally affected by domestic violence, either having been a victim or abuser, or knowing someone who is (Blue Shield Foundation of California).
- In San Diego County, 18,185 domestic violence incidents were reported to law enforcement in 2021, although the majority are never reported due to fear and intimidation (San Diego Association of Governments).
Homelessness
Domestic violence and homelessness are complex, interconnected issues in our community. Housing instability and a lack of affordable housing options heightens the risks for individuals, especially domestic violence survivors. Without access to resources and safe housing solutions, survivors are faced with limited options including staying in an unsafe environment at risk of significant harm.
- In San Diego County, over 7,600 people face homelessness on any given night and 52% are without shelter.
- 57% of women experiencing homelessness report domestic violence as the immediate cause.
- 83% of extremely low-income households pay more than half of their income on housing costs, compared to 2% of moderate-income households.
- Renters in San Diego need to earn $36.62 per hour, 2.8 times minimum wage, to afford the average rent of $1,904 per month.
- 142,590 low-income households in San Diego County cannot find an affordable home to rent.
Voices of Strength and Courage
“I was feeling so helpless and alone. You were there for me and my children and treated us like family. Because of YWCA, I’m working now and we’re living in our own home. All of this is because of your help and encouragement. I will always be grateful.”
“I’m grateful for all of the support and guidance you gave me. My children are doing much better now and I know we will keep getting stronger. Thank you for everything.”
“When I was at my lowest point and losing hope, you saved us. You gave me a safe place to stay with my cat and helped me regain my strength. Although I’m still not fully healed, I know that we will be okay.”
“After years of hidden abuse, I was broken, ashamed, and confused. She had convinced me it was all my fault. YWCA helped me regain my self-worth as a person, and most importantly, as a father. You literally changed my life.”
“It was so hard to imagine that I could have a different life for my children. For the first time, I’m excited and hopeful about our future.”
“I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to take care of my son on my own. Thanks to YWCA, we’re in our own home and getting better every day. I never felt alone because I had so much support from all of you. Thank you for helping us get through this.”
