The Dangerous Shortage Of Domestic Violence Services

• DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.28.6.w1052
• Publication Date: 2009-09-23T00:20:36Z
• Authors: Radha Iyengar; Lindsay Sabik
• Keywords: Disadvantaged; Investment; Economic shortage

Domestic violence is a serious, preventable health problem affecting more than thirty million Americans annually, yet little known about federally funded service provision. We used the National Census of Violence Services, an innovative victim-safety focused survey, to count services provided by 2,000 programs. During twenty-four-hour survey period, 48,350 people these services. The results show substantial unmet demand for (10 percent requests) because resource constraints, particularly in rural, economically disadvantaged, and minority communities. Greater funding domestic programs, housing support, likely be cost-effective public investment.