The legal and social organizations that are designed to protect survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence often fail them. A 2008 National Institute of Health study found that over one in ten victims of homicides involving an intimate partner, had a restraining order in place at the time they were killed. The National Institute of Justice found that protective orders are violated in the majority the cases involving various types of physical and sexual violence, including 67% of rape cases, 50% of physical assault cases and 69% of stalking cases. These numbers indicate that millions of survivors of trauma, domestic violence and sexual abuse, find themselves looking over their shoulder at the prospect of danger.

This reality takes it’s toll and undermines the mental and emotional well-being of survivors. It constrains their day-to- day lives, and prevents them from living their lives to their full potential. While an ecosystem of support exists for some survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence — such as domestic violence shelters — no other service or program provides this type of comprehensive approach to empowering survivors to take back their lives and re-establish peace of mind.