‘A Growing Movement’: Coalitions Are Expanding Legal Services for Appalachian Victims of Domestic Violence

Survivors in Appalachia face sizeable obstacles to leaving. Rural abusers are more likely to use weapons; intimate partner violence is more likely to end in homicide. Shelters and health centers can be impossible to reach.

News Story (North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia)

Tiffany Stevens
Rewire
May 9, 2018
READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Tags: Domestic Violence

Organizations mentioned/involved: Project for the Empowerment of Survivors (VA)

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In rural regions like Appalachia, survivors already face sizable obstacles to leaving a violent relationship. Rural abusers are more likely to use weapons; intimate partner violence is more likely to end in homicide. Domestic violence shelters and health centers can be impossible to reach without reliable transportation. According to a study published by the Public Library of Science, rates of hospitalizations sparked by intimate partner violence were 14 percent higher in Appalachian counties when compared to non-Appalachian counties.