Los Angeles County | San Gabriel Valley | Domestic Violence Awareness Month | Safe Housing
Domestic violence is one of the leading yet often hidden causes of family homelessness. Studies show that more than 80% of mothers experiencing homelessness with children have survived domestic violence. Recovery begins with safety, and safety starts with a place to call home. Since 1856, Maryvale has supported children and families across Los Angeles County. At Seton House in Rosemead, we provide safe, temporary housing and personalized support services that help single mothers and their children move beyond crisis, rebuild their lives, and achieve lasting stability and independence.
Our perspective: safety needs a place to live
For 170 years, Maryvale has met families where they are, providing the support they need to overcome challenges and build brighter futures. Through our early childhood education centers, mental health services, drug education programs, and Seton House, we’ve seen the same truth time and again: children cannot thrive, and parents cannot plan for the future when safety and stable housing are out of reach.
For families impacted by domestic violence, that reality is especially urgent. Leaving an abusive relationship often means losing a home, financial security, and a support network all at once. That’s why Seton House begins with what matters most: safety and stability. From there, we help women build the skills, connections, confidence, and resources they need to create lasting independence for themselves and their children.
Domestic Violence: What the Data Tells Us
| What the data shows | Figure | Source |
| Adults who experienced partner sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking in their lifetimes | More than 1 in 3 women (nearly 43.5 million) and more than 1 in 6 men (20.7 million) | CDC, 2023/2024 NISVS |
| Women reporting a lasting impact such as injury, missed work or school, or safety concerns | Nearly 1 in 3 | CDC |
| Homicide victims killed by an intimate partner | About 1 in 5 | CDC |
| Women experiencing homelessness who say domestic violence was the immediate cause | 22% to 57% | U.S. Administration for Children and Families |
| Homeless mothers with children who previously experienced domestic violence | More than 80% | U.S. Administration for Children and Families |
| Los Angeles women surveyed in 2023 who named domestic violence as the primary cause of their homelessness | 44% | Urban Institute, via The 19th |
| Requests for help that went unmet in one day in September 2025 | 13,018, with 58% for shelter and housing | NNEDV, 20th Domestic Violence Counts |
The pattern is clear and consistent: domestic violence is a leading driver of housing instability and homelessness, while the shortage of safe housing leaves thousands without the support they need.
Why domestic violence and homelessness are so closely linked
The connection between domestic violence and homelessness is not abstract. It is deeply practical. Abuse often includes financial control, leaving survivors with damaged credit, disrupted employment, and little or no savings. One UC San Francisco study found that unhoused Californians who had experienced domestic violence reported a median household income of just $1,000 per month, far below the cost of renting a one-bedroom apartment. Reporting from LA Public Press found that one in five women who experience homelessness in California fled violence or abuse by an intimate partner.
For many survivors, leaving an abusive relationship means losing not only a sense of safety, but also a home, financial stability, and a support network. When there is nowhere safe to go, the choice can become an unsafe home or no home at all. Safe, temporary housing exists to eliminate that impossible choice, providing survivors and their children with the stability they need to begin healing and rebuilding their lives
Three myths we hear, and what the evidence says
- Myth: Why doesn’t she just leave?” The National Network to End Domestic Violence notes that survivors often leave an abuser multiple times before leaving for good. Leaving is a process, and it is often the most dangerous and financially fragile moment. Judgment does not help. A safe place to land does
- Myth: “Children are fine if they never saw it.” Researchers estimate that 3.3 million to 10 million U.S. children are exposed to domestic violence each year. The U.S. Office for Victims of Crime reports that children exposed to partner violence are 3 to 9 times as likely to be maltreated, and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network notes that even children who do not see violence can feel the tension and danger at home.
- Myth: “This happens somewhere else” It happens in every community, including the San Gabriel Valley. The CDC’s latest data show that partner violence often starts young: about 16 million women and 11 million men first experienced it before age 18.
What we do at Seton House
Seton House provides safe, supportive temporary housing for single mothers with up to two children under age 10 who are experiencing homelessness. Families enter through referrals from community partners, followed by an application and screening process. Some of the mothers who come to us are survivors of domestic violence.
Our approach combines a stable home with structure and support:
- Case management and individualized goal planning so each mother has a clear path, not just a room
- Parenting support and life skills development
- Mental health support and wraparound services
- Employment and education support
- Connection to community resources and pathways to permanent housing
- Support groups for mothers who are survivors of domestic violence, a space to share experiences with people who understand
We emphasize stability, healthy routines, and sustained independence beyond a family’s time with us, because a safe week is not the goal. A safe future is.
During Fiscal Year 2025-2026, Seton House provided housing and support services to 31 women and 40 children. Of those who exited the program, 78% successfully moved into stable housing.
“Recovery is a journey of resilience and renewal. Every woman who walks through our doors has the strength to succeed, and our role is to provide the support and opportunity to help her get there,”
Christina Moore, Chief Program Officer at Maryvale
The need is growing, and so is Seton House
This year, we are expanding Seton House with 20 additional housing units so more mothers and children across the San Gabriel Valley can find safety and stability. Seton House is 100% funded by private donations and foundation grants. Every unit that opens is the result of community generosity.
Nationally, domestic violence programs are stretched. On September 10, 2025, 1,707 programs served 84,146 survivors and children in a single day, and 13,018 requests for help still went unmet. If federal funding were cut by 50% or more, 54% of programs surveyed said they would close within six months. Local, privately funded housing matters.
How to recognize domestic violence
The CDC describes four forms of intimate partner violence. Any one of them, or a combination, can be present:
- Physical violence: hurting or attempting to hurt a partner with physical force
- Sexual violence: forcing or attempting to force sexual acts without consent
- Stalking: repeated, unwanted attention or contact that causes fear
- Psychological aggression: words or actions meant to harm mentally or emotionally, or to control
Abuse is often invisible from the outside. Isolation, constant monitoring, and control of money are common warning signs.
What You Can Do
- Listen and believe. Let the person lead. Do not pressure them to leave.
- Share the hotline. Keep 1-800-799-7233 handy and pass it on.
- Give to Seton House. Support Seton House so more families have a safe place to begin again.
- Wear purple on Monday, October 5, the Day of Unity, and start a conversation.
- Share this post so the people who need it can find it.
If you need help now
If you are in immediate danger, call 911 if it is safe to do so.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is free, confidential, and available 24/7:
- Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
- Text START to 88788
- Chat at thehotline.org
For mental health support, call or text 988 at any time. To learn about Maryvale’s programs, call (626) 280-6510, email Care@maryvale.org, or visit Get Help Now.
If your device may be monitored, consider using one your partner cannot access.
About Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Domestic Violence Awareness Month grew out of a “Day of Unity” organized by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence in October 1981. The first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed in October 1987, the same year the first national toll-free domestic violence hotline launched. Congress first designated the month in 1989. The Day of Unity is marked on the first Monday of October, and purple is the color of the observance. Its themes are simple: mourn those who have died, celebrate those who have survived, and connect people to help.
FAQs
When is Domestic Violence Awareness Month? Every October. The Day of Unity falls on the first Monday, which is October 5 in 2026.
Is domestic violence a leading cause of homelessness for women and children? Yes. Studies summarized by the U.S. Administration for Children and Families show that 22% to 57% of women experiencing homelessness cite domestic violence as the immediate cause, and more than 80% of homeless mothers with children have experienced it.
What does Seton House provide? Safe, temporary housing in Rosemead for single mothers with up to two children under age 10 who are experiencing homelessness, plus case management, parenting support, mental health services, employment and education support, and connections to permanent housing.
How do families enter Seton House? Through referrals from community partners, followed by an application and screening process.
How can I support a friend who is being abused? Listen, believe them, avoid blame, and share the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. Let them decide the next step.
Why do survivors often stay or return? Leaving is a process. Financial control, safety concerns, and lack of housing make it hard, and survivors often leave more than once before leaving for good.
How can I help Maryvale support families? Donate to Seton House, share this post, and follow Maryvale for updates on the expansion.
Sources
- CDC: About Intimate Partner Violence (2023/2024 NISVS, updated August 19, 2026)
- NNEDV: 20th Annual Domestic Violence Counts Report
- NNEDV press release, March 25, 2026
- U.S. Administration for Children and Families: Domestic Violence and Homelessness Statistics
- NNEDV: Domestic Violence, Housing, and Homelessness fact sheet
- LA Public Press: Los Angeles domestic violence and homelessness
- The 19th: LA’s housing crisis is trapping domestic violence survivors
- Office for Victims of Crime: Children, Violence, and Trauma
- National Child Traumatic Stress Network: Intimate Partner Violence and Child Trauma
- Maryvale: Seton House
