July 9, 2026
For Immediate Release
RALEIGH, NC – NC Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCCADV) applauds Governor Stein for his veto of House Bill 437 this week. Domestic violence programs across North Carolina provide safe shelter, transitional housing, and long-term stable housing for survivors. House Bill 437 would, among other implications, require facility-based services to create drug-free zones and expose shelter operators to criminal liability. Rather than provide much-needed support for shelters that are already stretched thin, House Bill 437 threatens shelter operators with criminal liability, without providing additional resources to support implementation. The Governor’s veto of House Bill 437 helps protect access to safe emergency shelter for survivors of domestic violence and other unhoused North Carolinians.
In North Carolina, over 1 in 4 women and almost 1 in 4 men will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. This means that we all know someone who has experienced domestic violence; whether a friend, family member, co-worker, or someone we pass on the street. Our communities are safer when survivors have their basic needs met. It is called domestic violence because folks are not safe at home. Safe shelter is high on the list of basic needs. While the intent of House Bill 437 may be to protect vulnerable populations, this bill falls short of providing resources for housing or treatment that survivors need to rebuild their lives after abuse.
-Carianne Fisher, Executive Director of NCCADV
Domestic Violence Shelters Are Already Operating At Capacity
House Bill 437 would impact thousands of unhoused survivors across the state. According to most recent annual data from the NC Department of Administration, domestic violence service providers worked with more than 8,500 unhoused or housing insecure survivors of domestic violence. In just one day last fall, domestic violence programs across the state provided shelter for 1,097 adults and children. However, on that same day, programs were unable to meet 170 requests for services, the majority of which were for emergency shelter, transitional housing, or other housing needs. Domestic violence survivors who seek temporary stays in emergency shelter, often benefit from substance use programs and long-term housing support to prevent homelessness.
Shelters Prioritize Safety Through Trauma-Informed Care
Domestic violence shelters are staffed by highly skilled individuals who provide confidential, trauma-informed, crisis response and operate with existing safety protocols and are carefully monitored by state and federal. Emergency domestic violence shelters play a critical role in mitigating the risk of harm to survivors of domestic violence.
“Safety is paramount for survivors, and we appreciate that lawmakers are considering survivor safety needs” states Carianne Fisher, Executive Director of NCCADV. “At the same time, our goal is to make sure that future legislation impacting survivors of domestic violence and domestic violence service providers considers their most urgent concerns, as well as capacity and resources needed for effective implementation. We welcome the opportunity for further dialogue on ways to make North Carolina a safer place for all, including survivors of domestic violence.”
Media Interviews Available
NCCADV representatives are available for interviews regarding the impact of House Bill 437 on domestic violence shelters and housing programs across North Carolina.
For more information, please email contact@nccadv.org
About NCCADV
For more than 30 years, the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCCADV) has worked to confront the public health issue of interpersonal violence. Staffed by experts, NCCADV is dedicated to eradicating violence in the home by supporting all survivors. Through the organization’s partnerships with state and local governments, agencies providing critical services to survivors, and a growing membership base, NCCADV serves as a leading voice in advancing policies and practices that promote survivor safety and strengthen North Carolina’s response to domestic violence.
Contacto
Quisha Mallette, Policy Director
contact@nccadv.org
