October is recognized as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the United States, and it is when many community organizations join forces to spread the message to people who may experience such situations.
And according to the statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on intimate partner violence, more than one in three women and nearly one in six men in the United States suffer physical violence, sexual violence, or stalking by an intimate partner at some point in their lives.
This means that an estimated 10 million people suffer abuse by their intimate partners in the United States each year, which equates to about 20 people per minute. With these alarming figures that grow day by day, aid organizations are vigilant to help victims.
In February this year, the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program published the special report titled “Domestic Relationships and Violent Crime, 2020-2024.” This report focuses on violent crimes — homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault — where the relationship between the victim and the offender fits the UCR’s definition of domestic and family violence.
During the five-year period analyzed, the share of violent crimes in the context of domestic relationships increased. Authorities reported more than 11,000 victims of domestic violence-related homicide and another 1.1 million victims of domestic violence. About 75 percent of the victims were women.
Domestic violence is a serious and persistent problem in the Houston area and Harris County; approximately 30% of all local homicides are related to family or partner violence.
The Houston Police Department and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office revealed that partner-violence-related homicides in the Houston region doubled, rising from 32 deaths in 2019 to 64 in 2022.
Firearms are the most common means used in domestic violence-related homicides across Texas, significantly contributing to the severity of these incidents.
That is why authorities and experts in the field urge the community to seek help and report if they are victims of domestic violence.
There are organizations in the Houston area to help and guide victims of domestic violence.
The Women’s Resource of Greater Houston
Address: 13100 Northwest Fwy Ste 130, Houston, TX 77040
Phone: (713) 667-4493
AVDA (Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse)
Address: 1001 Texas Ave #600, Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 224-9911
Houston Area Women’s Center
Address: 3077 El Camino St, Houston, TX 77054
Phone: (713) 528-6798
Omar Welfare Association
Address: 6200 Savoy Dr #440, Houston, TX 77036
Phone: (281) 229-8883
Harris County Domestic Relations Office
Address: 1310 Prairie St #700, Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 274-7300
An-Nisa Hope Center
Address: 7100 Regency Square Blvd #290, Houston, TX 77036
Phone: (832) 324-9111
