Solana Beach recognized Domestic Violence Awareness Month Oct. 22 with a proclamation that recognizes the nonprofit Community Resource Center for its role in helping survivors of domestic violence.
“While great progress has been made in raising awareness and providing protections, work still remains to ensure safety, dignity and justice for all,” Solana Beach Mayor Lesa Heebner said, reading from the text of the proclamation.
The month-long recognition dates back to a 1981 Day of Unity, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. There is also a Teen Domestic Violence Awareness Month in February.
About 3 in 10 women and 1 in 10 men have experienced a form of domestic violence, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. More than 12 million people in the U.S. experience violence from an intimate partner every year.
The Community Resource Center, headquartered in Encinitas, offers services for domestic violence survivors, including emergency shelter, counseling, legal support, and therapeutic services for children.
“While the reality of domestic violence is discouraging, the reality that we come together and we agree and we are united around the fact that everyone should be able to live safely in their homes is a wonderful thing,” said John Van Cleef, CEO of the Community Resource Center.