Lacey City Council urges support for domestic violence survivors

The Lacey City Council proclaimed October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month during a meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 6.

A proclamation from the city urges community members to support survivors, promote healthy relationships and help prevent domestic violence. 

According to the proclamation, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men in Washington will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. The abuse also impacts children, families and the community.  

In 2025, law enforcement in Washington received more than 50,000 domestic violence offense reports. Many more cases went unreported due to fear, stigma or lack of resources.

The Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence also documented 45 domestic violence homicide deaths that year. 

The city noted that addressing domestic violence requires a joint effort from law enforcement, social services, community organizations and the public. The proclamation also emphasizes intervention, prevention, survivor support and accountability for abusers. 

Chelsea Keefe, Family Justice Center Program Manager at the Family Support Center of South Sound in Olympia, said the center served more than 3,336 people last fiscal year. About 1 in 3 were domestic violence survivors. 

Keefe said 73 percent of survivors who were served reported a history of strangulation. In addition, 74 percent had a weapon used against them, while 77 percent said an abuser had threatened to kill them. Thirty-three percent of survivors had been beaten while pregnant. 

Survivors seeking help may need immediate safety planning, assistance with protection orders or guidance through court proceedings. The center can also connect survivors with housing assistance, rent support and basic supplies for themselves and their children. 

The City of Lacey funds an advocate for people involved in misdemeanor domestic violence cases originating in the city. In total, 356 people tied to Lacey cases connected with the advocate last fiscal year. 

“Having someone they know they can contact matters, especially when abuse escalates or a court date approaches. We have seen survivors go from being afraid to report what happened to them to walking into court, asking questions, and speaking up for themselves,” Keefe said. 

She said the center respects the right of survivors to decide what comes next. 

“There is no single path to safety. Some survivors are ready to leave or report, others are not or cannot do so safely. They deserve to be believed and supported at every stage,” Keefe added. 

The Family Support Center expects to distribute more than $1 million in rental assistance specifically for survivors during the next year. Keefe said stable housing can give survivors time to make plans and consider what comes next.