Sexual assault survivors in Ohio can now access short-term emergency housing through a new program run by the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence. Research shows more than 90% of women experiencing homelessness report having suffered severe physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives. The Alliance s Survivor Coordinator Shelley Lieber said there are currently few emergency housing options available for survivors of sexual assault. .
It has been just days since Utah leaders enacted a bill that requires law enforcement agencies to conduct a 12-question assessment in response to domestic violence calls, to help determine how lethal a threat might be. At the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition, Public Policy Director Erin Jemison said she thinks the new law will enable police to better identify high-risk situations and get people connected with services. Officers will also have real-time access to more information about those making the alleged threat, and past law enforcement interactions related to domestic violence. .
A Virginia group is working to ensure abusers can t use the courts to keep harming their victims. Commonly called "abusive litigation," these come in the form of lawsuits aimed at drawing a victim back into contact with their abuser. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence finds in 2020, almost 34% of women and around 29% of men in Virginia experience domestic violence. .