[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6262002,"mediaKeyId","3116933-8bd60466573ee8331e64318c7a8483e1","parentId",3116933,"title","Gun access increases lethality of domestic violence, advocates tell council","audioSeconds",456,"startMs",7974000,"endMs",8430000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3116933-8bd60466573ee8331e64318c7a8483e1&start=7974&end=8430","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3116933-8bd60466573ee8331e64318c7a8483e1/thumbnail_7974000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6262002/Boston-City/Suffolk-County/Massachusetts/Gun-access-increases-lethality-of-domestic-violence-advocates-tell-council","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262002-68b2294d46866b2bab55e82abdab0114/orig.mp4?Expires=1776051174&Signature=TMlxeyps7-eU8CQnRFieVMVXiWci-3vFIP~bfaiPQt9WC34qNL6-t~JZ0l1T0KBG8qFwc0GSsODo9jHqmtvtMQ1fWrLeMNN6CjUu5QMnqv2U4dtYKc4ju7JRdXj6ycmfCo4EbAzurg0W12X0PGHqGI5Tytu5EhRM3w5e74bbrx0KfGpOzqKZAGwGgmNF-7toZOLrKQ~b5nz-irrsP8sJesK2TxJezLjCqTXyw0CF6dNgTjUmq8JH8yZz~5HLdCRy6xVBxcEhvgmc3DMkwd3UxLl9N-nK-6-KV1xjN3TmVau-dde9xUKzVj-0jOCZkOn6iMKNRkXT9y2QDoKdl1O6Vw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Boston City, MA","date","2025-04-24T23:39:58Z","article","Gun‑violence prevention advocates urged the council to consider the relationship between firearms access and domestic‑violence lethality, saying local prevention efforts should coordinate with gun‑safety strategies and community‑based violence intervention.

\"Domestic violence is a gun violence issue, and gun violence is a domestic violence issue,\" Ruth Zacker, CEO of the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, told councilors. Zacker cited national research presented during testimony: Everytown and Johns Hopkins work showing that the presence of a gun in domestic settings raises homicide risk and that a majority of mass‑shooting events include a domestic‑violence component.

Zacker said national estimates indicate that an average of 75 women per month are shot and killed by a current or former partner, and that access to firearms makes fatal outcomes much more likely. She urged the council to break down programmatic silos and to support cross‑cutting prevention that links healthy‑relationship work in schools and youth programming to community violence prevention and gun‑safety efforts.

Panelists tied the lethal risk to local incidents, including a shooting in Mattapan earlier in the week, and asked city leaders to maintain investments in community violence intervention programs, even as federal funding streams shift. Zacker cautioned that mass‑shooting and community‑violence data show a large proportion of events are connected to family or intimate‑partner dynamics, arguing for integrated prevention and data collection.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Strong Women, Families & Communities on April 24, 2025 at 2:00pm","oneSentenceSummary","A gun‑violence prevention advocate told the council that presence of firearms dramatically raises the risk of homicide in domestic‑violence situations and urged cross‑sector approaches linking domestic‑violence prevention with gun‑safety policies and community violence intervention.","taxTitle","Boston City, Suffolk County, Massachusetts","taxId",3381,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6262007,"Advocates urge expanded language access and culturally specific services for immigrant survivors",207,9152000,9359000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3116933-8bd60466573ee8331e64318c7a8483e1&start=9152&end=9359","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3116933-8bd60466573ee8331e64318c7a8483e1/thumbnail_9152000.jpg","/articles/6262007/Boston-City/Suffolk-County/Massachusetts/Advocates-urge-expanded-language-access-and-culturally-specific-services-for-immigrant-survivors","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262007-240a60d463ff1b3c1f1613c99caec423/orig.mp4?Expires=1776051174&Signature=A4tPsYINxOr5lEgO6DftYAwGtpUJ2pdVx5LVacuTVws6T2sf6KIj7Ooh-lAnmYw3hzLQ7t3bDMEoNWRLgVEKCoz~0JdoF-PdnSsAqL3B0fTWCHkOPcKMBZiX3PEUhI4CPk9qg~Ok~D8fShNzy9kA4-nl5BEHRYITPITLvdgsNqkmBqGidQYAgOr5TE7F-GyhdNPL0ylPXLkyiNicuk8RykGqusI~DN8La-iewTSW085jFVXrX1CaGqlkwUGzmPsGIJoreW~zX8EXPmKHK8EprWUCa0e-F70ThpwU8P~Os5~RnSUY1aj-xQV3-Of8SwCa~0dALP8MT-F8Hh6bg-rF4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Community organizations that specialize in immigrant and culturally specific survivor services urged the City Council to fund language access, culturally competent training and sustained partnerships with community‑based providers.

\"Boston is home to one of the largest limited‑English‑proficiency populations in the country,\" Dawn Salma, co‑executive director of the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence, said. She said many Asian language groups fall below thresholds used to require translated materials at scale, leaving survivors without information in their language.

Panelists described front‑line practice: culturally specific programs deliver trauma‑informed, in‑language services (hotlines, case management, legal referrals and shelter placements). Sahili, for example, said it serves roughly 300 women and children annually, with a client base roughly 80 percent South Asian and 20 percent Arabic speakers; the group highlighted that about 7 percent of its clients have very low literacy even in their native language, intensifying access barriers.

Advocates urged the council to create real‑time referral pathways between first responders (police, hospital staff, and courts) and trusted culturally specific providers, expand funding for bilingual and culturally competent therapists and victim advocates, and embed language access in Family Justice Center and courthouse processes.

\"Without information in their language, victims struggle to understand their legal rights, apply for benefits, or access health care,\" Salma said. Panelists also recommended disaggregated data collection by race, ethnicity and language so the city can identify underserved populations and target outreach.

Panelists said prevention and education must be culturally tailored and carried out in community settings (libraries, faith centers, salons, colleges) and in schools. They urged the council to support capacity building, joint outreach campaigns, and sustained funding for culturally specific nonprofits rather than one‑time grants.","Multiple community organizations told the council language barriers and insufficient culturally competent services prevent immigrant survivors from seeking help; advocates requested city partnership to fund interpreters, bilingual therapists and referral pathways to culturally specific providers.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6262011,"Advocates and councilors say shelter and housing shortages hamper survivor safety",7538,4462000,12000000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3116933-8bd60466573ee8331e64318c7a8483e1&start=4462&end=12000","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3116933-8bd60466573ee8331e64318c7a8483e1/thumbnail_4462000.jpg","/articles/6262011/Boston-City/Suffolk-County/Massachusetts/Advocates-and-councilors-say-shelter-and-housing-shortages-hamper-survivor-safety","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262011-093c3f3a4f2fefce5d95b027ea84509f/orig.mp4?Expires=1776051174&Signature=jzHZtCbylQ8Coo9vnrRw81-zArs1IsLI5rYM1q3XXRRo32nhzb5AX~cUGjr58RaXOKEkhu-dz8v2JeG-iJDMzHg8YzX4cKBtfq4yENb3WX5jLlqB-Ub~VMLt~WN6YDysUEEKynRcyEk3WF3DIGiQl9WQb~T2rxsJXm2IbmeEkvPwbH9xx8ZcMOJAOPP1N0bN-uyVZXdeRA8zUJKz8aDDE1eIqFJlD57yNwao2xKnrlRKuuJJqUwnLv1-oV4UIdPiBmFyOmvoou3rCiMYQ8rogwWtlVpyVEG6F4Qf3pNSu8mnQd~YtC20zZfUUAuGzqhbuDj5SXQstcWtLhFSjY~fnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Community advocates and councilors at the hearing described persistent gaps in emergency shelter and stable housing for survivors of domestic and sexual violence and urged the city to expand housing options and emergency supports.

\"We can't shelter‑bed our way out of this,\" an advocate quoted at the hearing said, summarizing providers' view that shelter supply alone will not solve long‑term housing instability for survivors. Advocates said emergency shelter is often full and that stays that once lasted six to eight months can now extend a year or more, creating a bottleneck for new entrants and for survivors seeking permanent housing.

Panelists and witnesses described practical obstacles: shelters often do not maintain wait lists because a call when a survivor is with an abuser could create safety risks; some shelters are located outside Boston and lack transit access; and small nonprofit shelters report staff and resident parking tickets because residents are not eligible for neighborhood permits.

Justice for Housing’s testimony described one recent case in which hotel and transport costs mounted while advocates sought longer‑term placement. Naya Wilson, Justice for Housing’s program manager, said her organization spent about $12,000 on hotel stays for survivors and $900 on transportation; she described an anticipated $17,500 package of first, last, security deposit, broker fee and furniture to rehouse a family.

Councilors and panelists urged the city to explore options including mobile vouchers (MRVP‑style portable assistance), landlord incentives to accept survivors, emergency hotel voucher partnerships with local hotels, and city support for targeted flexible cash assistance. Jane Doe Inc. and other advocates urged a state flexible‑cash program for survivors to cover needs from childcare to transportation.

Police witnesses said officers sometimes pay for emergency hotel rooms when no shelter is available; advocates urged a more systematic, city‑funded alternative so officers do not bear emergency costs. BPD and nonprofit partners asked councilors to prioritize housing options in the coming budget cycle and to coordinate placement pathways to reduce long shelter stays and frequent re‑entries.

Community groups urged that any housing response include culturally specific options, language access and wrap‑around supports for survivors with children, immigration concerns or criminal‑record histories that can limit eligibility for public programs.","Community providers and councilors told the hearing that emergency shelter capacity is insufficient, stays are lengthening, and survivors face logistical barriers such as transportation and parking; advocates urged city support for vouchers, landlord incentives and emergency hotel funding.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6262015,"Boston Police describe victim‑support staffing, caseloads and Family Justice Center partnerships",958,1402000,2360000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3116933-8bd60466573ee8331e64318c7a8483e1&start=1402&end=2360","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3116933-8bd60466573ee8331e64318c7a8483e1/thumbnail_1402000.jpg","/articles/6262015/Boston-City/Suffolk-County/Massachusetts/Boston-Police-describe-victimsupport-staffing-caseloads-and-Family-Justice-Center-partnerships","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262015-a5787f471c5a8976059d148e9a4d13ad/orig.mp4?Expires=1776051174&Signature=QYyX2Avcgtmx4UdULlQebBsHG-8hYrU7IK8xzhcJnsgiRVRqnwBuEmBI3VNJ~aMeJT7lWRXVcDifz4xnRHihu~Ee8H7DMUho08Io-DadFuXpJbfVK3BTOxddkbFSO0Rh0wU-DVRgjgznPp2ZfkFqHSJeFz17afiyYMHfhVfmatQiCGr7BZhM-SaEC1IvWEvzcB6csPBoEyYoCsQ3AUxdiGYz224DljUYOUhd5pbRLxeAODeWP8d-SocObxS0e14WaRl5dnG2ByjUoJLP0lq7mOvZnszh2-qI0PR9Lx3HRassxApcfGEDCFrKY2TRkgm-iO-70XtQdpj-ZCcB8SMT4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Boston Police Department representatives told the City Council they prioritize trauma‑informed, survivor‑centered response while acknowledging gaps in shelter, legal and culturally specific services.

\"Response to all victims of crime are a priority for all personnel within the Boston Police Department,\" Deputy Superintendent Victor Evans, who oversees the Family Justice Division, told the committee. He said the Family Justice Division includes the sexual‑assault unit, the domestic‑violence unit, the human‑trafficking unit and a crimes‑against‑children unit staffed by detectives, victim advocates and civilian personnel.

Captain Detective Terry Thomas and other unit supervisors described operational details: about 12,000 domestic‑related cases annually are assigned to roughly a dozen detectives, the domestic‑violence unit said. The department currently employs five domestic‑violence advocates and aims to reach seven; staff support survivors with safety planning, court accompaniment, transportation and referrals to shelter and social services.

\"One of the advocates really spoke highly of Sahili Boston,\" Thomas said, describing cross‑agency referrals and regular coordination with partners including the Child Advocacy Center of Suffolk County and culturally specific nonprofits.

BPD officials described the sexual‑assault unit’s shift coverage: detectives typically work daytime/evening shifts and remain on call overnight, with supervisors responding to scene investigations and coordinating follow‑up. Sergeants explained that supervisors and detectives review files to identify repeat or escalating cases and consult with the District Attorney’s Office on prosecutorial decisions.

Councilors asked about language access for survivors. Captain Thomas said officers and detectives are diverse and BPD also has a language‑line contract for less common languages; advocates and community partners often provide direct translation in person. \"We have access to a language line where you could coordinate,\" he said.

Several councilors raised advocate coverage and timing: detectives typically assign advocates after a police response, and advocates will call survivors repeatedly or send certified letters when needed. Officials acknowledged that advocate staffing is insufficient for the reported caseload and that many survivors do not report crimes.

BPD urged families in crisis to call 911 for immediate danger; advocates and detectives stressed that survivors who do come forward may also receive a victim‑witness advocate through the District Attorney’s Office when a case moves to prosecution.

Police asked partners and councilors to support staffing and community referral pipelines for culturally specific providers, interpreters and legal services so police and advocates can connect survivors quickly to appropriate supports.","Boston Police officials outlined investigative units, advocate staffing levels and Family Justice Center partnerships, saying the department assigns roughly 12,000 domestic cases a year and currently staffs five BPD domestic‑violence advocates with plans to reach seven.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6262018,"Boston Public Health Commission launches citywide gender‑based violence prevention initiative",420,968000,1388000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3116933-8bd60466573ee8331e64318c7a8483e1&start=968&end=1388","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3116933-8bd60466573ee8331e64318c7a8483e1/thumbnail_968000.jpg","/articles/6262018/Boston-City/Suffolk-County/Massachusetts/Boston-Public-Health-Commission-launches-citywide-genderbased-violence-prevention-initiative","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262018-147da8660355a4a638e11a8be8448d11/orig.mp4?Expires=1776051174&Signature=i2OHxJDoBM5sPc9psb-Qw85dICT6UCMnZ8P1pcbCYask27Pk6fna96nMfbZdZ2QTfhekIONIZSvT5Bx6CVbtxlvenIv4UMtk5GifhBrtA98rwDMu1fth0ZVSm4tLzwXObXnyHe9gh3nyFHym0HyMb0QZRJflNUdeIfjNQokkLXOTMpJZVzdF3koqCoLGxfxezzGE3vXPgW3Zf3DNWQpu2zAUxnghxzUtaaS6QgoNDh-eX55T7xSbMo4EM01i00fDPGA1F4QofY0utT9MdJn6WA726jvfilqlA89TliTFxlPCtcXThhnSBI64wgUgT-54tT2ug09KLL5SCu5I2INupA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Boston Public Health Commission on Thursday outlined a new Domestic, Sexual and Gender‑Based Violence Prevention Initiative intended to centralize data and coordinate prevention and response across city agencies, community providers and health systems.

The initiative, the BPHC said, will build on the Family Justice Center’s work, create a confidential city data infrastructure for gender‑based violence, and expand training and capacity building for organizations that encounter survivors.

Officials said the program began formally in January 2025 but grew from longer community engagement. \"We engaged more than 500 residents through 16 community listening sessions,\" Kim Mendoza Iraita, program director for the initiative, told the City Council. Mendoza Iraita said the project’s draft goals are to foster an inclusive, equitable collective response to gender‑based violence and to better identify prevention and early‑intervention opportunities.

\"Prevention must begin with education, particularly with children and young people,\" Mendoza Iraita said, describing school‑based curricula on consent, boundary setting and healthy relationships and cross‑training for community violence responders and domestic‑violence advocates. She told councilors the initiative will partner with Boston EMS, hospitals, the Boston Police Department and community organizations to build a confidential data system that can guide resource allocation.

Mark Scott, interim director of the Office of Violence Prevention at BPHC, said the new initiative expands the scope of violence prevention beyond the Family Justice Center by reaching organizations that are not physically based in that building. \"This issue is bigger than what is sitting in that building,\" Scott said, noting that many community providers have grown or operate offsite and that available information is fragmented.

Councilors pressed BPHC on the evidence base and timing. Mendoza Iraita said the commission is launching a gender‑based violence landscape survey for providers and will phase data‑infrastructure work so survivor safety and confidentiality are protected before any broader data sharing.

Looking ahead, the initiative will prioritize: (1) developing shared data standards and a confidential collection hub at BPHC; (2) expanding prevention programming (including Start Strong school work and social‑media campaigns); (3) cross‑training community and domestic‑violence responders; and (4) creating a combined risk/safety‑planning tool for co‑occurring community and domestic violence.

Officials asked for council support for funding and partnership as the initiative hires staff and builds the systems needed for data analysis and survivor‑centered reporting. The BPHC materials and testimony emphasize survivor privacy and trauma‑informed approaches as core constraints that shape the rollout.

Mendoza Iraita concluded: \"Through strengthened collaboration, improved data collection, and a more coordinated response, we are confident that we will create a safer and healthier Boston for all.\"","The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) presented a new Domestic, Sexual and Gender‑Based Violence Prevention Initiative that will centralize data, expand cross‑sector training and partner with community organizations to prevent and respond to intimate‑partner and sexual violence.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Gun access increases lethality of domestic violence, advocates tell council

Advocates urge expanded language access and culturally specific services for immigrant survivors

Advocates and councilors say shelter and housing shortages hamper survivor safety

Boston Police describe victim‑support staffing, caseloads and Family Justice Center partnerships

Boston Public Health Commission launches citywide gender‑based violence prevention initiative