Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Supporting Survivors and Building Safer Communities 

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness, honor survivors, remember those whose lives have been lost, and remind our community that help is available. Domestic violence can affect anyone, and its impact extends far beyond the person experiencing abuse. Creating safer communities starts with recognizing the signs, supporting survivors, and making sure people have access to resources when they need them most. 

The need for awareness and support is significant. According to the Texas Council on Family Violence, 26 people in Harris County were killed by an intimate partner in 2025—20 women and 6 men. Harris County had the highest number of intimate partner homicides of any county in Texas. Each life mattered. Each loss affected families and our community. The effects of intimate partner violence also reach children. In 2025, intimate partner homicides in Texas left 128 children under the age of 18 without one or both parents.  

How YMCA Community Impact Services Helps 

At YMCA Community Impact Services, we believe everyone deserves to feel safe, supported, and connected to the resources they need. 

Our Victim Assistance and Advocacy’s Legal Services Department served 110 individuals who experienced domestic violence, providing support to people navigating the challenges that can come with abuse and seeking safety. Many of these cases were referred to us through Focusing Families in Brenham, Texas. 

Our work also recognizes that domestic violence can overlap with other forms of victimization, including human trafficking. Through YMCA Community Impact Services Trafficked Persons Assistance Program (TPAP), we served 98 youth clients last year and documented 281 reported instances of victimization, including 16 instances of domestic or family violence. Youth who experience human trafficking may also experience domestic/family violence, sexual abuse, and other victimization. TPAP supports trafficking victims and survivors while addressing these overlapping needs through trauma-informed, client-centered case management, safety planning, advocacy, and connections to essential services. 

You Can Help Create a Safer Community 

Domestic Violence Awareness Month is an opportunity for all of us to take action. 

You can help by: 

• Learning the signs of trafficking and domestic violence 

• Donating funds or essential items 

• Volunteering your time and skills 

• Building a community partnership to support survivors. 

Together, we can help survivors find safety, support, and a path forward. To learn more or donate, click here.