The Sandoval County Board of County Commissioners proclaimed October 2025 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and heard appeals from state and local advocates for increased, sustained funding for victim services.

Shawna Aldall, of the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence, told commissioners that Sandoval County (including Rio Rancho) lost eight community members to homicide in 2024 and that five of those deaths were the result of intimate-partner violence. “So as we recognize domestic violence awareness month statewide, we recognize all the really hard work that our advocates are doing out there serving survivors of domestic violence,” Aldall said.

Aldall outlined service demand increases statewide: crisis calls up more than 50 percent, shelter nights nearly 50 percent higher and children’s services up 74 percent, and asked state leaders to fund a $5,000,000 recurring package to expand 24/7 crisis response, housing navigation and legal advocacy and to develop a statewide DV hotline to reach rural survivors.

Tracy Davis, clinical director and adult therapist at Haven House, thanked county residents for community support and urged year-round attention to domestic-violence services. After the proclamation, Commissioner Joshua Jones offered, “I would like to offer up a pledge, and support Haven House with $1,500,” and asked whether other commissioners would join; commissioners said they would discuss discretionary funding.

Commissioner Catherine A. Brook read the proclamation and noted visible community awareness activities such as purple ribbons in the Rio Rancho, Bernalillo and Placitas areas. The board did not take a formal funding vote at the meeting; the pledge by Commissioner Jones was a personal or discretionary offer rather than a formal budget appropriation.

Advocates emphasized that services for people who cause harm (accountability programs), shared data and training capacity are part of a prevention strategy; Aldall said programs currently operate with limited resources and urged county and state leaders to prioritize sustained funding.