In 2025, our domestic violence shelter in Bowling Green, The Cocoon, had to turn away nearly 150 requests for emergency shelter because our facility was full – 147 requests from 103 people in danger (some called back more than once). That’s not unusual. Already in 2026, we’ve had to turn away more people than that – with 284 requests turned away just through September.
The truth is painful. Domestic violence survivors are scared; they’re at risk of violence, they gather up their courage to call for help – and too often we have to say no because we don’t have the space.
That pattern is being repeated all across Ohio.
In 2025, emergency shelters in Ohio had to turn away more people experiencing intimate partner violence than they were able to serve. Data collected by the Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN) from its 76 member programs show that last year, those programs sheltered 8,229 people – 4,534 adult survivors and 3,695 of their children.
But the emergency shelters turned away 9,677 survivors, more than half (53%) of those who sought help in 2025, because the shelters were full or did not have enough staff to take in more survivors. These statistics likely include repeat callers – survivors who call back more than once, hoping for a vacancy because they have nowhere else to go. It’s clear: to help these families – some of our most vulnerable citizens – Ohio needs to do more.
The incidence of violence is on the rise – with more callers seeking help, more serious injuries. Families are stressed economically – gas, groceries, child care, housing, everything costs more. When people feel like they don’t have options, staying in an unsafe situation feels like the only choice. \
In Ohio, 2024-2025 was the deadliest year for domestic violence fatalities in the 10 years ODVN has gathered those statistics, with 157 fatalities – 96 dead victims and 62 perpetrators killed. The victims ranged from a four-month-old baby to an 89-year-old woman, and included three pregnant women. One police officer was killed responding to a domestic violence incident. Guns were used in 84% of those deaths.
For a shelter like The Cocoon, which provides emergency shelter and community-based services to domestic violence survivors in Wood County, the need feels great and the funding precarious. We desperately need to expand our capacity – for example, to hire more advocates to support survivors. We don’t have the funds to do it.
Thanks to support from Gov. Mike DeWine and the legislature, state funding for domestic violence services has risen in recent years. The fiscal year 2025-2026 state budget includes $10 million a year for ODVN, supporting our 76 member programs across the state. However, on a per capita basis, Ohio remains the lowest in funding domestic violence services compared to surrounding states
Our current per capita funding rate is 85 cents, up from 32 cents in FY 2022. Yet we’re not keeping pace. In FY 2024-25, Kentucky spent $3.06 per capita on domestic violence services, Michigan $2.39 per capita, Pennsylvania $1.71 per capita, West Virginia $1.41 per capita and Indiana $1.31 per capita, and Ohio only 85 cents.
In 2027, Ohio’s new governor and the legislature will consider the next biennial budget. We need our elected leaders to know that providing stable state funding for domestic violence services in Ohio has never been more important. It literally can save lives.
Kathy Mull
Executive Director, The Cocoon
