This summer, someone in Virginia reached out to a sexual and domestic violence hotline for help every eight minutes.
Between July 1 and September 30, 2026, that added up to 17,385 calls. Over those same three months, advocates at sexual and domestic violence agencies across the Commonwealth responded to 5,291 requests for emergency shelter and supported 8,924 survivors through advocacy services. Every one of those numbers is a person who was seeking safety, support, or just needed someone to listen.
Every quarter, we take a closer look at what the latest statewide data is telling us. And now that we’ve been tracking this data for over a year, we’re also looking at year-over-year trends. Here’s the short version: people are reaching out for help just as often as before, but finding a safe place to go is getting harder.
Key findings
- Hotlines across Virginia received 17,385 calls in Q3 2026, about 189 a day, the same pace as Q3 2025.
- Requests for emergency shelter fell just 2% from Q3 2025, but the number of times shelter was provided, offered, or arranged fell 13%.
- 261 times, a survivor requested emergency shelter, and it was full.
- More than 4 in 10 people living in emergency shelter were children.
- Among survivors who completed risk assessments, the share who became homeless as a result of the violence grew from 14% to 17%.
Q3 2026 by the numbers
Hotlines. Hotlines across Virginia got 17,385 calls in just three months. That’s about 189 calls a day, or roughly one every eight minutes, day and night.
Emergency shelter. Survivors asked for emergency shelter 5,291 times, about 58 requests every single day. Shelter was provided, offered, or arranged 2,409 times. In 261 cases, someone asked for shelter but couldn’t access it because it was full. Not every request results in a placement. Capacity, eligibility rules, and other barriers all play a part.
Who was in shelter. 1,847 people lived in an emergency shelter over these three months: 1,081 adults and 766 children. That means more than 4 in 10 people staying in shelter were kids.
Advocacy. Advocates supported 8,924 survivors, from safety planning to accompanying them to the hospital or court. That includes 7,261 adults and 1,663 children, so about 1 in 5 were kids.
The danger survivors face, and what it costs them
’s safety. Among survivors who completed one this quarter:
- 16% had their breathing blocked or obstructed
- 13% had a weapon used against them
- 10% were threatened with a firearm
Those numbers are a matter of life and death. Strangulation and access to firearms are among the strongest predictors of intimate partner homicide. These aren’t abstract risks. They’re warning signs advocates help survivors plan around every day.
Advocates often walk survivors through a risk assessment, a set of questions that helps spot warning signs and plan for a survivor’s safety. Among survivors who completed one this quarter:
And the harm doesn’t stop when the violence does. Because of the abuse they experienced:
- 25% had to relocate from their home
- 19% missed work or school, or lost income or financial security
- 17% became homeless
Violence follows survivors into their homes, jobs, schools, and finances, often long before and after they first reach out for help.
Same need, fewer places to go
Compared with the same three months last year, survivors reached out at almost the same rate. But the number of times shelter was provided, offered, or arranged dropped sharply.
| Q3 2025 | Q3 2026 | Change | |
| Hotline calls | 17,422 | 17,385 | Down 0.2% |
| Requests for emergency shelter | 5,395 | 5,291 | Down 2% |
| Times shelter was provided, offered, or arranged | 2,776 | 2,409 | Down 13% |
Hotline calls held steady at about 189 a day both years, and shelter requests barely budged. But the number of times shelter was provided, offered, or arranged fell 13%. That’s an 11-percentage-point gap. Put another way: last year, about half of all shelter requests ended with shelter provided, offered, or arranged. This year, fewer than half did.
Meanwhile, more survivors are losing their homes because of the violence. Among survivors who completed risk assessments:
- The share of those who became homeless grew from 14% in Q3 2025 to 17% in Q3 2026.
- The share of those who had to relocate grew from 22% in Q3 2025 to 25% in Q3 2026.
So, the need hasn’t changed, but access to safe shelter has. And when there’s nowhere safe to go, survivors can be left with an impossible choice between their safety and a roof over their heads.
How you can help
As Domestic Violence Awareness Month comes to a close, here’s what we hope you’ll take with you: every survivor deserves a safe place to go, and you can help make that happen. Our 70+ member agencies show up for survivors every day, but they can’t do it alone. Investing in emergency shelter and housing for survivors is investing in safety for all of Virginia, and it’s a big part of our public policy work. Here’s how you can jump in:
- Become a member: Join the Action Alliance and add your voice to a statewide movement.
- Make a gift: Donate to support survivors and the advocates who serve them.
- Stay in the loop: Subscribe to our newsletter.
Help is here
If you or someone you love needs support, you don’t have to figure it out alone. The Virginia Statewide Sexual and Domestic Violence Hotline is free, confidential, and available 24/7/365, and advocates are always ready to listen.
- Call: 800-838-8238
- Text: 804-793-9999
- Chat: vadata.org/chat
- Find local services: Virginia Services Map
- Ayuda en español: Consigue ayuda
Want to find an agency near you? Check out our Virginia Services Map
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Source: Hotline Data and Advocacy Data reports from VAdata, Virginia’s statewide data system for sexual and domestic violence agencies, retrieved October 13, 2026. Q3 2026 covers July 1 to September 30, 2026. Risk factor and impact percentages reflect survivors who completed risk assessments during advocacy services. Find more on our Data and Statistics page.
How many people called domestic violence hotlines in Virginia in 2026?
From July 1 to September 30, 2026, hotlines across Virginia received 17,385 calls, about 189 a day. That’s nearly the same as the 17,422 calls received during the same period in 2025.
Is emergency shelter available for domestic violence survivors in Virginia?
Yes, but it is getting harder to access. In Q3 2026, survivors requested emergency shelter 5,291 times, and shelter was provided, offered, or arranged 2,409 times. On 261 occasions, shelter was requested but full. Compared to Q3 2025, requests fell 2% while the number of times shelter was provided, offered, or arranged fell 13%.
How many children did Virginia’s sexual and domestic violence agencies serve?
In Q3 2026, 766 children lived in emergency shelter and 1,663 children received advocacy services. More than 4 in 10 people in shelter were children.