Domestic Violence Service Providers in Oregon say housing is one of the biggest unmet needs for those fleeing abuse.

"The housing crisis has really had an impact on victims and survivors of violence. Being able to access housing can be incredibly difficult," said Jayne Downing, Executive Director of the Center for Hope and Safety in Salem.

According to data collected by the Oregon Alliance to End Violence Against Women, 6,610 requests for service went unmet from June 2021 to July 2022 in Oregon. During that time 90,914 calls for help were made to service providers statewide and 5,245 survivors were provided with emergency shelter.

A one-day national survey of Domestic Violence Providers in Oregon found that 1,100 victims and survivors sought and were provided with services on Sept 9, 2021. Of those requests for service, 622 were helped with emergency shelter. The survey found that on that day alone there were 127 unmet requests for service of which 80% were for housing.

For some those types of calls are a matter of life or death.

"I remember when I left I was desperate and thought 'wow I will need to sleep on the streets, I'm homeless so I started calling," said a survivor and mother of two in Spanish. She asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons.

She said her life was in danger when she left with her 24-year-old daughter and three-month-old infant. She ended up getting help through the Northwest Family Services in Clackamas County.

"They helped me so much, I have rent covered I'm looking for work and my daughter already has a job," said said.

During the 2020 legislative session, Oregon Lawmakers set aside $ 6 million in housing service funds for Domestic Violence Victims statewide. It was the first time the state appropriated funds specifically for housing to Oregon Domestic Violence Service Providers. The money could be used for everything from rent to deposits, credit repair, or emergency shelter in hotels.

"They are all facing being able to figure out where do I go how do I access that housing and then how do I have the funds very often they are dependent on their partner," Downing said.

This year advocates are asking lawmakers to renew the $ 6 million in funding.