Every October, we honor Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month (DVAM) by engaging and educating our community. This year, making those connections was especially critical.

We are facing dark times: the need for Doorways' shelter and services continues to increase, and government funding continues to decrease (see the In the News section below to learn more). More than ever, these collective efforts – our service to survivors and your support – are needed to give hope against harm and build a brighter future.

Although DVAM has ended, with your support, we remain committed to this cause year-round. Together, we can ensure that anyone who needs Doorways' support knows how to access it, that anyone seeking to join our cause knows how to give their support, and that we collaborate to prevent future violence.

Community Outreach and Engagement

From churches to a movie theatre, from the County Board room to the Henderson Hall gym on Fort Myer, Doorways staff and volunteers spent the last month connecting with community members across Arlington.

Open Hearts, Open Doors

Because of you, Doorways has the resources we need to answer crisis calls from survivors and go upstream to work with youth to create a future free of violence. We are so grateful to be part of such a caring community!

The Consequences of Huge Federal Cuts to Domestic Violence Funding “May Be Death”

"VOCA-supported programs helped almost 8 million people in fiscal year 2022–2023, funding nearly 3 million shelter beds and 2.3 million crisis-hotline calls, according to the Department of Justice. Those services have become more critical since the pandemic, as rates of intimate partner violence have soared, a housing crisis has made it even harder for survivors to flee, and the overturning of Roe v. Wade has given abusers another way to threaten pregnant survivors. But even as the need is growing, VOCA funding has been plummeting—and Congress has failed to act on what many advocates say may be the best hope for a legislative fix."

After Funding Cuts, Nonprofits for Domestic-Violence Survivors Scale Back

"In the D.C. region, this year's cut has translated into a decrease of $200,000 — or 11 percent — for Doorways, Arlington's sole provider of crisis services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Leaders say that means one less advocate to go to court with survivors; one less community advocate to help with safety planning and connecting survivors to resources; two less case managers for shelter and housing programs.

One mother interviewed by The Washington Post said Doorways’ services helped her come to terms with the abuse she endured and find the courage to leave.

'I couldn't see any light,' said the woman, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because she was concerned for her safety. 'Doorways brought me hope.'"