The Hidden Costs of Domestic Violence in Our Communities

When most people think about domestic violence, they picture the harm it causes to an individual. And yes, that harm is devastating—physically, emotionally, psychologically. But what’s often overlooked is how domestic violence ripples outward. It doesn’t just impact one person. It impacts families. Workplaces. Schools. Health systems. Entire communities.

Domestic violence is not a private issue. It's a public one—and we all feel the effects.

💸 The Financial Toll

Abuse takes a serious economic toll—not just on survivors, but on all of us. Here’s how:

• Healthcare costs skyrocket due to injury, chronic illness, and long-term mental health needs.

• Law enforcement and court systems spend valuable time and resources responding to repeated DV calls, many of which don’t lead to lasting protection or accountability.

• Survivors often lose their jobs or housing due to the aftermath of abuse, leading to higher rates of poverty and homelessness.

• Children exposed to violence are more likely to need educational and behavioral support, stretching school resources.

This isn’t just happening in big cities. It’s happening in small towns and rural communities across Alabama—and many of us never see it.

💔 The Human Cost

We can’t put a price tag on trauma. Survivors carry the weight of fear, shame, isolation, and grief. Some never feel safe again—not because they haven’t tried to heal, but because our systems failed to protect them and they feel like they ran out of options, or didn’t know where to turn.

And let’s be honest: those systems were never really built with survivors in mind.

So survivors often carry the cost alone. They carry the guilt. The fear of not being believed. The fear of being blamed. They carry the burden of keeping others safe from someone who has already hurt them. And when there’s no public accountability, when an abuser can move on without consequence, the cycle continues.

🌱 What Happens When We Start Paying Attention

When we acknowledge the broader impact of domestic violence, something shifts. It stops being “her problem” or “a private matter.” It becomes our responsibility—as neighbors, voters, leaders, coworkers, and humans.

That’s why the Alabama Domestic Violence Registry Project exists.

We’re working to build a public registry of domestic violence offenders—not to shame or punish, but to protect. To create transparency. To make sure survivors don’t carry all the risk alone.

We believe accountability should live in the system, not just in the survivor’s body.

✊ What You Can Do

• Talk about it. Silence keeps the cycle going. Awareness opens doors.

• Support survivors with compassion, not judgment.

• Advocate for systems that actually protect, not just perform.

• Share our mission. Help us build momentum for the registry and real, lasting change.

Because when one of us is unsafe, none of us are truly safe. And when we protect survivors, we protect everyone.

💡 Resources & Ways to Take Action

📞 If You Need Support

• National Domestic Violence Hotline – 24/7 confidential support
  📱 Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788
  🌐 thehotline.org

• Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ACADV)
  Help connecting with local shelters and services
  🌐 acadv.org | 📞 (334) 832-4842

• Love is Respect – For teens & young adults in abusive relationships
  🌐 loveisrespect.org | Text LOVEIS to 22522

🫶 If You Want to Support Survivors

• Believe them. Your belief is powerful—don’t underestimate it.

• Donate to local shelters or survivor-led programs in your area. Even small monthly gifts help.

• Offer practical support: a ride, a safe space, help with childcare or court appearances.

• Learn about trauma-informed care and how to show up in a nonjudgmental, supportive way.

📣 If You Want to Advocate for Change

• Support the Alabama Domestic Violence Registry Project
  ➤ Sign up for our official newsletter to stay informed, volunteer, or share our mission.

• Call or email your state legislators. Ask them to back legislation that protects survivors and promotes offender accountability.

  • Go HERE, type in your home address, then click “State.” The 2nd name on the list is your local representative!

  • To support the ALDVRP Bill specifically, you can copy and paste this: I’m writing to urge your support for HB599 which would create a domestic violence registry. This bill is an important step toward protecting survivors, preventing repeat abuse, and increasing public safety—just like existing sex offender registries.

    Please stand with survivors and support HB 599. Thank you for your service and attention to this critical issue.

• Use your platform. Share survivor-centered resources on social media.

• Educate yourself and others. Read about coercive control, survivor justice, and the gaps in our systems.

In solidarity,
The Alabama Domestic Violence Registry Project Team
Creating safety, centering survivors, and building a future rooted in accountability and care.