Inside the 2026 NC Advocacy Day
NC Coalition Against Domestic Violence hosted a joint advocacy day with NC Coalition Against Sexual Assault earlier this month. Members and advocates from across the state joined the day-long event which featured a press conference and meetings with lawmakers emphasizing the importance of passing legislation to help fund domestic violence and sexual assault programs in North Carolina. According to NCCADV Executive Director Carianne Fisher, “domestic violence is not a private issue. It is a public crisis — and the numbers in our state make that impossible to ignore.” Fisher emphasizes that in North Carolina more than 1 in 3 women and nearly 1 in 3 men will experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime.
Raising Our Voices for Survivors
Adequate program funding is key to helping survivors access emergency shelter, transportation, court support, mental health services and more during critical life moments. Jennifer Vance and Cassandra Shine (featured below), Co-chairs of Survivor Voices of Family Services of Forsyth County, visited the General Assembly for the first time. Jennifer reminded those present that “there is a great need for financial relief and support” for survivor programs. Cassandra added that “the focus needs to be on assisting women instead of blaming women.” She also sees a lot of strain on shelters and echoed others call for a focus on housing affordability.
Advocates Call for Sustained Funding of Domestic Violence Services
Becca Bishopric Patterson (featured above), based in Alamance County, has been in the field for fourteen years and can attest to the harmful impacts of lack of funding for survivor programs. Patterson describes a “Domino effect on loss of community relationships and preventative and/or educational efforts.”
Data Driven Insights
A 2025 survey that captures a snapshot of services provided across North Carolina on a single day highlights the growing strain on domestic violence programs. While programs were able to serve 1,590 victims of domestic violence, another 170 were turned away because of insufficient resources. As Carianne Fisher explains, “when a survivor is asked to wait or is turned away, the risk doesn’t pause. The danger doesn’t stop. The consequences can be fatal.”
Crossing the Finish Line
The good news is that state lawmakers are in agreement that more funding is needed for domestic violence programs. Both House and Senate proposals include a $4 million increase to marriage and divorce filing fees, which then goes in part to directly support domestic violence programs in all 100 NC Counties. Now is the time to cross the finish line.
As, Carianne Fisher explains, “every dollar invested in prevention and support reduces long term costs – to healthcare systems, law enforcement, and to our economy. But more importantly, it saves lives.”
Recursos
To learn more about why sustained funding for domestic violence programs is essential, explore the resources below:
