Dear Friend,
As 2022 draws to a close, we at Stop Abuse for Everyone (SAFE) want to reach out and ask for your support in our continued efforts to advocate for the underserved, and to stand beside some of the most vulnerable individuals within abuse victim populations.
This fall, SAFE joined the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance (VSDVA). VSDVA is a non-profit network of survivors, Sexual and Domestic Violence Agencies, and allies working to strengthen how communities across Virginia respond to and prevent sexual and intimate partner violence.
Earlier in the year, we honored Erin Pizzey as the SAFE 2022 “Woman of the Year,” an award created to celebrate women who recognize underserved victims of both domestic violence and abuse, as well as those whose long-term devotion focuses on helping victims despite their gender, age, race, or sexual identity. Read the press release here or watch the video on our YouTube channel. Pizzey is best known for starting the first safe house for women and children escaping domestic violence, and continues to advocate for all victims of abuse.
We presented at the "International Men and Families Conference" in Toronto, Canada, an event that focused on male victims of abuse – one of the underserved populations we address. SAFE’s Tracy Henke delivered her presentation entitled, “Stop Abuse for Everyone – A Critical Component of Equity.”
Our mission continues to be supported by the work of our fabulous interns. This year, over 20 interns from University of California, Bakersfield and the University of West Florida conducted research and helped us in our goal to stop abuse for everyone, making sure no one is left unsupported.
In the upcoming year, we are planning a major update to our online National Directory of Shelters who serve specific vulnerable and underserved populations.
But we need your help.
This year, we’re bringing attention to a statistic many Americans don’t know about: According to recurring CDC data, 1 in 7 men will be a victim of serious sexual or intimate partner violence in their lifetime. With today’s U.S. population levels, that’s roughly 24.5 million boys and men. Yet in every state in the U.S., men and boys are routinely unable to find shelter at or receive services from many domestic violence agencies. For these victims, some as young as 12 years old, they are often told their sex or gender makes them unfit and unable to be housed at the shelter facilities. And if they object, they’re ushered away as threatening. Or worse – with nowhere to go, even with children in tow, they’re forced to return to their abuser or live on the street.
Can we count on your tax-deductible support?
Your support will help us create awareness and influence state governments direct monies to intimate partner violence programs and increasing availability at shelters to help this vastly underserved population and others. Men are often faced with the same lack of housing or support as teens, the elderly, members of the LGBTQ+ community, members of the BIPOC population, and other underserved communities. This is why SAFE exists - we’re working to truly Stop Abuse For Everyone.
Your dollars donated today will help the over 24.5 million victims who are often not welcomed in shelters across our nation to get the services they need to be safe and to heal.
