Domestic Violence Steals Lives—And It’s Closer Than You Think
As Domestic Violence Awareness Month draws to a close, it’s crucial to confront the harsh reality of intimate partner abuse in our community—and recognize our role in breaking the cycle of harm.
Domestic violence is often misunderstood. It’s not only physical; it can be emotional, verbal, financial, or sexual. At its core, abuse is about power and control—behaviors that intimidate, humiliate, manipulate, blame, and wound. It can occur in marriages, dating relationships, cohabiting partners, or even between separated or divorced individuals. Domestic violence spares no one: it affects people of all races, genders, ages, religions, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Its impact ripples far beyond the immediate victim, shattering families, workplaces, and entire communities.
The statistics are sobering. Domestic violence fatalities in Ohio have nearly doubled over the past decade. In 2025 alone, 157 people lost their lives to domestic violence—80% of them by gunfire. Victims included pregnant women, children, and the elderly. Fifty-six percent of primary victims were people of color, the youngest victim was four months old, and the oldest was 89. Among the 11 children killed, four were murdered by a parent, and two by a mother’s partner. Thirty-six youths witnessed a parent’s murder.
Locally, the Cuyahoga County Domestic Violence Department handles more than 1,200 case filings annually, alongside over 5,000 additional interactions via phone, walk-in consultations, and email. Reports indicate that 2025, particularly the last quarter, has seen a troubling increase in domestic violence-related court cases.
No one deserves to be abused. Yet victims often internalize blame and remain in dangerous relationships due to fear, shame, low self-esteem, cultural pressures, or immigration concerns. Those who grew up in abusive environments may not even recognize their relationship as unhealthy. Tragically, some victims cling to love for their abuser, hoping that “doing or being better” will stop the abuse.
YWCA Greater Cleveland is committed to ending domestic violence—and the silence that surrounds it. At our Norma Herr Women’s Center shelter, survivors encounter compassionate, trauma-informed staff who believe them, support them, and help them rebuild their lives. Our goal is to stabilize, empower, and guide victims toward self-sufficiency and independence.
Escaping domestic violence takes extraordinary courage. Victims deserve our unwavering support and encouragement. Together, as a community, we can dismantle the culture of silence, offer sanctuary, and champion a future free from abuse.