5 Tips for Supporting a Loved One Who Is Experiencing Abuse | | |
At least one in three people experience intimate partner violence. When someone you care about is being harmed, it can feel difficult to know how to respond. Here are five tips:
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Believe them. It is crucial to believe survivors. Avoid asking questions that cast doubt on the situation. Your loved one may have experienced gaslighting, a form of abuse that makes them doubt their own truth. By believing your loved one, you can help them reclaim their sense of self and their reality.
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Listen without judgement. Know that there is no excuse for abuse. It can be helpful to remind your loved one that they did not say or do anything to deserve being mistreated. When in doubt about what to say or do, listen.
| | If you have questions or concerns about your relationship, or a loved one’s, we encourage you to contact Doorways' 24/7 hotline for support: 703-237-0881. We are here for you. | | We’d like to thank our partner Clark Construction for being a “Home of Their Own” sponsor for this year’s “Open Hearts, Open Doors” event, and for supporting Doorways for 12 years! | | Clark Construction is a leading provider of general contracting, design-build, construction management, and specialty contracting services for building and infrastructure assets. For more than a century, Clark has delivered assets and infrastructure that strengthen our nation. Learn more at www.clarkconstruction.com. | | In Arlington, the Need for Domestic Violence Shelter Is at an All-Time High | | Doorways sheltered 150 survivors in our emergency safehousing in fiscal year 2025 — more than ever before, and more than double the number we sheltered just five years ago. | | |
Why are more survivors seeking shelter?
One reason is the high cost of living in our community, including housing. In Arlington, the wage needed to afford a two-bedroom rental is more than 3.5x the minimum wage. Let's explore the issue.
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Out of Reach: The High Cost of Housing
"Nowhere in the United States—no state, metropolitan area, or county—can a full-time minimum-wage worker afford a modest two-bedroom rental home at Fair Market Rent," the National Low-Income Housing Coalition reports.
That includes Arlington. To afford a two-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent in Arlington, you have to earn $44.50 per hour.
At minimum wage, that means you would have to work 143 hours per week.
| | To Afford a Two-Bedroom in Arlington County | | | Housing Wage | $44.50 | | Fair Market Rent | $2,314 | | Annual Income Needed to Afford | $92,560 | | Minimum Wage | $12.41 | | Work Hours/Week at Min.Wage | 143 | | | Select "Arlington County" under Compare Jurisdictions on Virginia's profile page to see more. Explore the full report to learn about the nationwide housing and homelessness crisis. | |
Five Facts About Domestic and Sexual Violence and Homelessness
"38 percent of all domestic violence victims become homeless at some point in their lifetime. In addition, more than 90 percent of homeless women have experienced severe physical or sexual abuse at some point in their lives.
Survivors can experience obstacles both in looking for housing and maintaining safe housing. These obstacles are often amplified depending on a survivor's race, immigration status, or English language proficiency."
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LA’s Housing Crisis Is Trapping Domestic Violence Survivors
"That's how homelessness and DV interlaps," said Rivera. "If you don't have a family member that can take you in, if you don't have a friend that can take you in, you're going to end up part of the [homeless services] system."
| "Rivera's story illustrates an often overlooked crisis in LA: domestic violence as a major driver of homelessness." There, "44 percent of unhoused women surveyed in 2023 by the Urban Institute reported domestic violence as the primary cause of their homelessness." | | |
