On a single day in September 2025, domestic violence service-providing organizations across Nebraska served 772 adults and children. The figure offers a striking window into both the prevalence of domestic violence and the critical role local service providers play in keeping survivors safe.
That snapshot comes from the 20th Annual Domestic Violence Counts Report, released by the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV). The report compiles a one-day, unduplicated count of people seeking domestic violence services nationwide.
Shelter, Support, and More — All in 24 Hours
Of the 772 people served on September 10, 2025, 371 adults and children found refuge in emergency shelters, transitional housing, hotels, motels, or other housing provided by local organizations. Another 401 people received non-residential supportive services, including transportation, legal support, mental health services, and housing assistance.
The breadth of services offered reflects just how much domestic violence service providers do beyond providing a safe place to sleep. Advocates help survivors navigate the legal system, connect with therapy, plan for long-term housing stability, and access resources for their children.
Hotlines: A Lifeline Around the Clock
Nebraska organizations’ hotlines received 217 contacts during the 24-hour period, averaging more than 9 per hour. These help lines serve as a critical first point of contact for many survivors, offering support, safety planning, information, and resources.
For someone in a dangerous situation, a hotline call can be the first step toward safety. These numbers are a reminder that the need for immediate, accessible support is constant, day and night.
Education and Prevention: Building Safer Communities
Nebraska service providers didn’t only respond to survivors in crisis. On that same day, they provided 15 educational sessions and trainings, reaching 325 members of the public on topics including domestic violence prevention and early intervention. This prevention work is essential: the more communities understand the warning signs of abuse and where to turn for help, the more lives can be protected before a crisis occurs.
What Services Looked Like Across the State
Services provided by Nebraska domestic violence service-providing organizations on September 10, 2025:
- Transportation — 60% of service providers
- Emergency Shelter — 50%
- Court Accompaniment or Legal Support — 45%
- Children’s Support — 35%
- Prevention and/or Educational Programs — 35%
- Support Related to Mental Health — 35%
- Support to Teens/Young Adult Victims of Dating Violence — 30%
- Support Related to Health Care or Health Care Systems — 25%
- Transitional or Other Housing (run by organization) — 25%
- Hotel/Motel Stay — 20%
Advocates Sound the Alarm on Funding
While the numbers reflect the tremendous capacity of Nebraska’s domestic violence service providers, they also arrive in a difficult funding environment. Advocates across the state have raised concerns about declining federal resources, particularly reductions in Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding, which supports emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportive services.
“We are facing a perfect storm: increasing numbers of survivors reaching out for services, increasing levels of violence, and decreasing funding. Since 2022, our Victims of Crime Act funding has decreased 56% … We are working with our collaborative partners to sustain critical services, but the safety net is fraying.” — Nebraska domestic violence advocate
The gap between demand and available resources is a challenge that advocates, policymakers, and communities must address together. Sustaining and expanding the services reflected in this report requires sustained investment in the organizations doing this work every day.
What This Report Tells Us
The Domestic Violence Counts Report has been conducted annually for 20 years, making it one of the longest-running snapshots of domestic violence services in the country. Each year, the data reinforces the same truth: domestic violence is widespread, and local service-providing organizations are a vital part of the response.
In Nebraska, the service-providers captured in this report operate in communities large and small. They are staffed by advocates who answer hotline calls at 3 a.m., drive survivors to court hearings, and work tirelessly to help people rebuild their lives after abuse. The numbers in this report represent real people, neighbors, parents, and children who needed help and found it.
How You Can Help
Nebraska’s domestic violence organizations served hundreds of people on a single day in September 2025, but continued funding cuts threaten their ability to meet that need. There are two powerful ways you can help:
- Advocate with your legislators for adequate funding. → Learn how to get started.
- Support local service-providing organizations directly through donations and volunteerism. → Find your local organization.
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