Snapshot survey shows help for N.H. domestic violence victims

CONCORD, N.H. --Domestic violence agencies in the state helped 241 adults and children on a single day last year, according to a national survey that provides a snapshot of whether services meet demand.

They were among 47,864 people who received domestic violence services from 1,243 agencies nationwide in the 24-period beginning at 8 a.m., Nov. 2, according to the National Network to End Domestic Violence.

New Hampshire agencies also referred another 22 people to outside agencies because they lacked the resources to help them, the survey found. Nationally, 5,157 requests for help could not be met, the survey found.

Grace Mattern, executive director of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, said the survey shows the huge need for domestic violence services.

"At the same time, there is an enormous need for more resources to do this work," said Mattern, who hopes the results will motivate advocates to push for full funding of the federal Violence Against Women Act in the 2008 budget.

A total of 8,186 people received services from the coalition's crisis centers in 2006. The state receives about $4 million in federal funding annually, with $1.5 million of that coming under the Violence Against Women Act.

Eleven of the coalition's 12 member agencies took part in the national survey.

During that 24 hours, 75 calls were made to the coalition's telephone hot line; 49 adults and children were in domestic violence shelters; 18 were in transitional housing for victims; and 99 sought services such as counseling, legal help and children's support groups, the survey found.

Of the 22 people referred elsewhere, 13 were trying to find emergency shelter, eight were seeking transitional housing, and one was seeking another service.

"This is a picture of one day in the life of crisis centers in New Hampshire. It's not a picture of how many people are abused in New Hampshire," Mattern said.

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Information from: New Hampshire Union Leader, http://www.unionleader.com