Impact on our Community
Family violence in our area profoundly impacts the quality of community life, endangering lives, damaging relationships and draining precious resources. Family violence causes homelessness, is the leading cause of injury to women in the United States and a proven contributor to a host of poor childhood outcomes and risk behaviors.

Traumatic Effects on Children
Many local children see violence day after day in their homes, living in great fear, confusion and risk to their immediate safety and future well-being. Studies have shown that these children are at greater risk of delayed language skills, isolation, juvenile delinquency, substance abuse, academic failure, depression and suicide.

Plight of those fleeing violence
Many of the individuals who come to us for help have no place else to turn to escape and heal from the violence in their lives. Those we serve have been punched, strangled, raped, and threatened with their lives. At the time of leaving, the violence often escalates, placing the victim in extreme danger of severe injury or death. During this heightened danger, victims often must enter the justice system where they are required to face their perpetrators and provide a myriad of documentation, such as police and medical records, that substantiate the abuse they may have spent years trying to hide.

Poverty and homelessness
Some individuals leaving violent homes are forced to return for lack of ways to support themselves and their children. For others, leaving a violent relationship means taking a step into a life of poverty or homelessness. At CVIC, we have learned so much about the barriers individuals face in breaking free of violence, and we have built up services that help them break through those barriers to have lasting change in their lives.