I am a domestic violence survivor, and that is not a label anyone chooses lightly. It carries pain, fear, survival, and the long road of trying to feel safe again after what happened behind closed doors. Too many of us are expected to survive the violence and then somehow navigate the aftermath alone, with little support, long waitlists, and systems that do not understand trauma.

This is bigger than my story. Survivors in every community need safe housing, counseling, legal support, and advocates who understand what domestic violence does to a person’s life. When those services are missing or underfunded, people stay trapped longer, leave without enough protection, or struggle to rebuild while carrying the weight of abuse by themselves. Awareness matters, but awareness without real support leaves survivors with words instead of help.

That is why I am calling on state leaders to fund and guarantee trauma-informed services for domestic violence survivors. We need stable support for shelters, counseling, crisis response, legal advocacy, and long-term recovery services so survivors are not forced to choose between danger and homelessness, silence and survival. This is a real, concrete step that can help people get safe and stay safe.

If you believe survivors deserve more than hashtags and sympathy, please sign this petition. Stand with those of us who have lived through domestic violence and are asking for systems that protect, support, and believe survivors.