Announcing a MWF Needs Assessment of Safety from Violence Organizations in Metrowest

The Metrowest Women’s Fund (MWF) has completed a needs assessment of Safety from Violence organizations in Metrowest in partnership with Market Street Research. Safety from Violence, with a focus on domestic violence, sexual assault and the commercial sex trade of children, is a priority impact area for the Metrowest Women’s Fund.

“Faced with a crisis in federal funding and the reality that prevention and direct services around gender-based violence are notoriously under-resourced, we recognize the need to act locally,” said Rebecca Parkhill, MWF Co-Founder and Co-Director. Through confidential interviews, researchers collected crucial data that identify the current and ongoing needs and services of Metrowest organizations dedicated to women and girls and their safety from violence. Further goals are to educate the community about identified needs and gaps in services. The report found:

Key Insights and Recommendations

Safety from Violence nonprofits are facing increased client needs without the necessary resources to match. Nearly all client-serving SFV nonprofits report seeing:

• Long wait lists for services, with some organizations having to turn survivors away

• A lack of shelter space in the Metrowest area

• Long delays and wait lists for medical and mental health care

“Today we’re having a really difficult time supporting survivors in staying away from their abusers. The moment they reach out to us they’re at their breaking point but there is no place to go, and our resources are so limited. We don’t have enough volunteers or staff.”

- Nonprofit Interview

Resource and Capacity Crisis

Nonprofits are facing reduced budgets, an increased need for services, staff burnout and a lack of volunteers. Loss of resources and capabilities has a direct impact on clients’ survival.

Recommended Improvements for Grant Making

• Multi-year grant awards

• Support for general operating

• Streamlined applications

Anticipated Challenges

• Decreased funding at the federal level

• Need to plan strategically for an uncertain future

• Need for increased staff support in the face of increased workloads

Priority Client Needs

Survivors face a hierarchy of needs with most needing to secure housing, legal protections and employment first and foremost. Without these basic foundational needs met, it becomes much harder for survivors to escape an abusive situation.

Goals and Recommendations for Funders and the Community

• Listen and connect personally to the nonprofits

• Keep support local

• Increase collaboration among funders and nonprofits

• Raise awareness and destigmatize sexual and domestic violence.