Women Shelters Essay

1340 Words3 Pages

Domestic violence is becoming more and more of a reality in today’s world; 57,000 people have been killed in domestic violence situations in the last 25 years (Fantuzzo and Fusco, “Children’s Direct Exposure to Types of Domestic Violence Crime: A Population-based Investigation”). This alarming statistic has prompted the increase of women’s shelters, usually known as “safe houses,” across the nation. Since safe houses are usually non-profit organizations dependent on donations, critics wonder if these shelters’ benefits outweigh the high cost it takes to keep them running. Are women’s shelters actually effective? Based on statistical evidence, the beneficial resources that safe houses provide, and multiple survivors’ stories, it can be proven that women’s shelters are indeed effective and very necessary. Statistical evidence can be used to stress the seriousness of domestic violence and the importance of having women’s shelters dispersed throughout the nation. According to recent surveys, one in every three women will experience domestic violence at some time during her lifetime. Domestic violence is also the leading cause of injury to women, with the abuser usually being a member of her own family. Finally, up to ten million American children witness some type of domestic violence every year (Fantuzzo and Fusco, “Children’s Direct Exposure to Types of Domestic Violence Crime: A Population-based Investigation”). These statistics show that domestic violence is a reality and that the efforts of women’s shelters are not in vain. Women’s shelters first began many years ago and have improved over time. The first shelter in the nation for abused women and their children, Women’s Advocates, was founded in 1974, in St. Paul,... ... middle of paper ... ...n abuser, but without the city’s financial support and the acceptance of the general public this would not be possible” (Petska, “Organizers of safe house withdraw”). Since Malden and Brodowicz work for women’s shelters, the statements they provide are firsthand opinions; because they know what it takes to run a shelter, it is very important to them to stress the importance of funding for the shelters. Without women’s shelters, millions of abused women would not have a “way out” of the danger they face each and every day. Based on the statistics, survival stories that are typical of victims helped at a shelter, and the beneficial resources provided at shelters, it is obvious that women’s shelters are very effective and necessary. It is crucial that these shelters receive adequate funding in order to give victims of domestic violence a hope for a better future.

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