What would you do if someone in your family or close to you was assaulted by a stranger? Would you offer support, worry about their safety, find resources to help them? Probably. Think about this.

What would you do if that same person was assaulted by someone they loved or trusted — a husband, wife, girlfriend or boyfriend? Would you reach out or would you keep silent?

We at the Family Violence Project hope you would make it your business.

Domestic violence destroys families and devastates communities. Domestic violence is a health issue, an economic issue, a family issue, a social issue, and a human rights issue — it is everybody’s business.

• Domestic violence kills: Of the 20 Maine homicides last year, 13 were classified domestic violence, and seven of the victims were younger than 13.

• Domestic violence costs money: According to a 2013 Forbes article, “Domestic violence costs $8.3 billion in expenses annually: a combination of higher medical costs ($5.8 billion) and lost productivity ($2.5 billion).”

• Domestic violence and law enforcement: Domestic violence assaults represented 47.4 percent of all assaults reported to law enforcement in 2012, according to the Maine Coalition To End Domestic Violence.

Last year, the Family Violence Project worked with close to 1,800 people, provided free court advocacy services to 959 survivors, provided direct services to 1,580 individuals, sheltered 144 victims and received 11,624 calls to our 24/7 helpline.

We urge everyone to make domestic violence their business so that adults and children never have to experience abuse at the hands of those they love and trust. No one should live in fear in their own homes. For more information, call 623-8637 or email fvp@familyviolenceproject.org.

Kelly A. Smith

Development director/advocate

Family Violence Project

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