Domestic assault data shows many go without help

New data released by the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence said for every person shelters are able to house, there are two others they have to turn away.

The MCADSV released 2015 statistics showing 35,922 people benefited from services, however, 22,137 requests for services went unmet.

“Our domestic violence numbers have remained incredibly high, not only in the number of services that they’re offering, but also in the number of individuals that they are having to turn away,” Jennifer Carter Dochler with Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence said.

The MCADSV compiles domestic violence statistics for the shelters across the state. The recent numbers show Missouri shelters housed 10,232 people but had to turn away 17,609.

State lawmakers voted to put $500,000 from general revenue into the Department of Social Services budget for 2015, which enabled organizations to help more sexual assault survivors.

“We know that from our stats, we did provide services, documented services, to twice as many to the prior year. It may be for some of our programs that that funding allowed them to expand services,” Carter Dochler said.

MCADSV said more than 90 percent of those helped by domestic violence programs report an increase in their sense of safety.