Domestic Violence in Philadelphia

Domestic violence is a debilitating public health epidemic in Philadelphia, where:

• The Philadelphia Police respond to more than 100,000 9-1-1 calls each year that are domestic in nature
• 31% of respondents to the Philadelphia Voices Survey have been affected or know someone who has been affected by domestic violence
• More than 8,000 new cases were filed for Protection From Abuse Orders in Philadelphia Family Court in 2024
• The Philadelphia Domestic Violence Hotline receives approximately 10,000 calls each year
• 26 people were killed by domestic violence in Philadelphia in 2024

The rippling effects of domestic violence impact us all, with devastating consequences for families, neighborhoods, workplaces, and entire communities.

Domestic violence intersects with poverty, homelessness and job instability that significantly limits survivors' abilities to escape abuse.

In Philadelphia, lack of affordable housing, widespread poverty and high rates of community violence result in insurmountable obstacles for adults seeking long-term and sustainable safe living situations. Individuals experiencing domestic violence are also more likely to experience under- or unemployment due to the cycle of power and control implicated in domestic violence dynamics.

• Employment and Domestic Violence: The impact of domestic violence, which may include physical, emotional and financial abuse, significantly limits a victim’s potential earning power. In one study assessing barriers to employment resulting from domestic violence, 85% of victims reported that their abuser kept them from sleeping; one-third reported that their abuser withheld transportation at the last minute; and one-third were beaten to the point that they could not work.
• Poverty and Domestic Violence: Although domestic violence impacts individuals from all backgrounds, the need for domestic violence services in Philadelphia, the poorest major city in the country, is particularly pronounced. Abused individuals in poverty experience the greatest difficulty in gathering the resources to seek safety.
• Housing and Domestic Violence: With limited financial resources, victims are forced to navigate difficult choices, particularly if they have children. Often, the only alternative to abuse is homelessness. On an average night, 250 homeless individuals in Philadelphia self-report as victims of domestic violence.
• Trauma and Domestic Violence: Due to fear, isolation and stigma, victims may only come into contact with city systems and domestic violence service providers once violence has reached a crisis point — when interventions are costliest and least effective. Early intervention and prevention, in addition to emergency measures, make up a critical component of the continuum of services that Women Against Abuse offers.

Due to fear, isolation and stigma, victims may only come into contact with city systems and domestic violence service providers once violence has reached a crisis point—when interventions are costliest and least effective. Early intervention and prevention, in addition to emergency measures, make up a critical component of the continuum of services that Women Against Abuse offers.