Domestic Violence Counts 2008: A 24-hour census of domestic violence shelters and services

This annual census documents the number of individuals who sought services in a single 24-hour period, as well as the types of services requested, the number of service requests that went unmet due to a lack of resources, and the issues and barriers that domestic violence programs face as they strive to provide services to victims of domestic violence. This report is instrumental in raising awareness about domestic violence and the incredible work that local domestic violence programs do every day.
Includes charts of individual State/Territory Summaries.

In just one day 1,553 participating local domestic violence programs (78%)

• Assisted 60,799 adults and children through shelter, transitional housing, and advocacy
• Answered 20,658 hotline calls, over 14 calls every minute
• Trained 30,210 attendees at 1,455 community education sessions

Additional notes of interest:

• 16,458 Children under 18 spent the night of September 17, 2008 in a domestic violence shelter or transitional housing program, more than the approximately 11,000 children who are born every day across America.
• This year, 22 states and territories achieved a 100% participation rate, double the number from the 2007 count.
• This year's 78% DV Counts participation rate is 11% higher than the 2000 US Government Census conducted by the US Census Bureau (67%).