A Community Poem About Domestic Violence

For the YWCA Week Without Violence, we set up poster boards in the lobby of our downtown Seattle building and asked staff, clients, residents, and visitors to reflect on domestic violence. Read the poem that resulted from their thoughtful responses.

Helping Survivors of Domestic Violence: A “Cyber-Advocate’s” Story

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"Domestic violence is a global pandemic. One person cannot stop it alone, but each of us can do something to make a difference. Everyone can be an advocate, learning the facts, the realities that victims deal with, and talking with family or friends, breaking the silence," writes Firesteel intern Carissa Daniels. In this inspiring post, Carissa writes about her volunteer work as a "cyber-advocate" for survivors of domestic violence.

From Victim to Survivor to Advocate

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We all have a lot of advocacy to do to ensure that all community members -- including survivors of domestic violence -- have the opportunity to live in a safe, healthy, affordable home. To inspire you to take action, we're sharing a moving post by Firesteel's first advocacy intern, Carissa Daniels. A survivor of domestic violence who experienced homelessness with her daughter, Carissa is now a strong voice for ending domestic violence and its devastating effects.

Abuse or Homelessness: An Impossible Choice

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Domestic violence survivors may stay or return to an abusive relationship for many reasons, but the number one reason is that they lack economic resources or other viable options. Our new video, the second of four we're sharing this month, explains how abusers use finances to trap their partners, in many cases forcing them to make an impossible choice between abuse and homelessness. It's up to all of us to end domestic violence and its devastating effects on women and children; find out what you can do to help.

Did You Know Domestic Violence Is a Leading Cause of Family Homelessness?

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For Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we've made four new videos sharing information about domestic violence and its connection to family homelessness. Starting today and continuing each Thursday through Oct. 29, we'll post a new video on our blog and on our Facebook page. We invite you to share these videos with your social networks, explore further resources, and take action to end domestic violence.

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