Domestic violence is growing in Utah, but funding for victims remains flat

Jenn Oxborrow — domestic violence program administrator for the Utah Department of Human Services — explained that the people working with survivors of domestic violence are accomplishing tremendous things with limited resources. Over the past five years, she said, funding has remained flat but 13 private domestic violence shelters in the state have managed to house more than 41 percent more survivors — going from 76,767 shelter nights in 2008 to 108,377 nights in 2012.

But despite the increased services, many people continue to fall through the cracks. Oxborrow said that over those same five years the number of people who weren’t served by domestic violence shelters increased by 67 percent. In 2012, that meant 2,809 people — mostly women and children — were turned away by already-full domestic violence shelters.

Kendra Wyckoff, the executive director of the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition, added that Utah’s rates of rape and domestic violence are higher than the national average. Wyckoff spoke Monday during a press conference at the Utah State Capitol during which advocates called on legislators and Utah residents to support $693,500 in funding for domestic violence programs. She also called on Utah residents to urge their legislators to support the funding.

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