On October 7, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners proclaimed October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. At Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, we are grateful that the county named survivor-centered partnerships in its recognition, including our Safe and Stable Families Project, which provides free legal advocacy and support to survivors.
Meeting survivors where they are
Legal help only works if people can reach it. That is why our Standing with Survivors mobile advocacy van goes to survivors in everyday places, like a grocery store parking lot or a community outreach event. Through the van, we help survivors:
- Navigate protective orders and understand their rights
- Plan for safety and connect virtually to the court
- Access emergency financial assistance, community resources, and ongoing support
In 2025, Standing with Survivors helped nearly 600 people, and we are on track to serve more by the end of 2026. We were glad to have Fulton County Manager Richard Anderson and Superior Court Judge Shukura L. Ingram join us when the van made a recent stop in Downtown Atlanta.
Why partnerships matter
Across Georgia, the need outpaces the resources. On September 10, 2025, 48 of the state’s 57 identified domestic violence programs took part in NNEDV’s one-day Domestic Violence Counts Survey. In that single day:
- 2,259 victims were served
- Hotlines received 674 contacts, more than 28 every hour
- 284 requests for help went unmet because of limited funding, staffing, and resources, and about 64 percent of those were for housing
As one Georgia advocate put it, leaving an abuser is not a single moment. It is a process that takes time and wrap-around support. Legal advocacy is one piece of that, alongside housing, counseling, and community.
How you can take part this month
- Wear purple. Wear Purple Day is Thursday, October 15. Post a photo with #DVAM.
- Listen to survivors and share resources so they are easy to find.
- Support our work through volunteering, donating, and sharing information.
- Talk about healthy relationships with the people in your life.
If you or someone you know needs help
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. The Georgia Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-33-HAVEN (1-800-334-2836), and the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. The Fulton County Superior Court Family Division One Stop Office can also help at 404-613-0505. [Add AVLF’s own contact or referral info.]
Thank you to the Fulton County Board of Commissioners and Fulton County Superior Court for standing with survivors, and to everyone who makes this work possible.
Sources: Fulton County Superior Court news release (October 1, 2026); Fulton County social media post; NNEDV (2026), 20th Annual Domestic Violence Counts Report, Georgia Summary, NNEDV.org/DVCounts.