Today marks the beginning of the Week Without Violence, an initiative created by YWCA USA nearly 20 years ago to mobilize people in communities across the United States to take action against all forms of violence, wherever it occurs.
Very often, violence occurs in the home; one in four women will experience domestic abuse in her lifetime. When victims have few financial resources, domestic violence can lead to family homelessness.
Washington state Sen. Steve Hobbs has done important work to remove barriers to housing for survivors of domestic violence. He was the lead sponsor for the Fair Tenant Screening Act, which makes it illegal for tenant screening companies to report on a housing applicant’s status as a survivor of domestic violence, stalking or sexual assault. The law was one of Firesteel’s policy priorities this year, and we’re grateful for Sen. Hobbs’s leadership on this issue.
In this video, Sen. Hobbs talks about the importance of the Fair Tenant Screening Act. He also invites you to join the Week Without Violence — we hope you will!
What You Can Do
Join a Week Without Violence event. If you’re in the Seattle area, you can join the panel discussion “Building Bridges: Institutional Responses to Domestic Violence in Communities of Color” this Friday, Oct. 18. Or find an event near you.- Get social. Share our blog with your online networks and “like” Firesteel on Facebook to follow all our content.
- Contact your legislators. Tell them you are concerned about domestic violence in your community. Ask them what they’re doing to prevent abuse and help survivors.