I’m starting Phoenix Files because I keep coming back to the same truth: survivors have stories, and too many of those stories are met with silence, disbelief, or nowhere safe to turn. This project was created to promote awareness around domestic violence and sexual assault, but awareness alone is not enough if the people asking for help still cannot get real support when they need it.

Local support centers are doing life-changing work for victims and survivors every single day. They help people find safety, resources, advocacy, and a path forward after abuse and assault. But these centers cannot keep carrying this weight without stronger, dependable community investment. If we believe survivors deserve more than sympathy, then we have to make sure the organizations serving them are funded well enough to answer the phone, keep their doors open, and meet people with real help.

That is why I am calling on local governments to increase funding for domestic violence and sexual assault centers in our communities. Survivors should not have to rely on awareness months, viral moments, or donations alone to access basic support. Public officials have the power to treat this like the urgent public issue it is and invest in the services that help people survive, heal, and rebuild.

Phoenix Files is about using our voices for change, and this is one concrete change we can fight for together. If you believe survivors deserve real support close to home, not just words, please sign and share this petition.