October is domestic violence awareness month. As Birmingham faces a homicide crisis, sharing domestic violence resources could help someone in need before abuse turns fatal.

Domestic violence can take many shapes and forms; it can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, psychological, or technological actions or threats that influence another person within an intimate partner relationship.

One Place Metro Alabama Family Justice Center in Birmingahm helps survivors access a range of options and solutions. Those who choose to reach out can be survivors of abuse, concerned friends, family members or coworkers, and even abusers looking to change.

One Place members have put together a list of resources for those in crisis or seeking help for another person, including:

The National Domestic Violence hotline is available 24/7 in English and Spanish.

• Hotline: 800-799-7233.
• Hotline for hearing impaired: 1-800-787-3224.
• Text START to 88788.

The Alabama Domestic Violence hotline is available for clients 24/7.

• Hotline: 1-800-650-6522

Young Women’s Christian Association Central Alabama is an advocacy organization working to empower victims and survivors of domestic abuse by offering safety planning, case management, resources, referrals and legal advocacy. The crisis line is operated 24/7.

• Main Line: 205-322-9922
• Crisis Line: 205-322-4878
• Additional domestic violence resources can be found on their website.

One Place Metro Alabama Family Justice Center provides a central location for resources and services related to domestic violence such as making reports, filing protection from abuse orders, relocation and more.

• Phone: 205-453-7261
• Address: 3613 6th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35222
• Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Additional domestic violence resources can be found on their website.

United Way of Central Alabama offers support for housing, food, income support and healthcare. Members can assist with finding resources for those in domestic violence situations.

• Hotline: 211
• Hotline for hearing impaired: 711
• Address: 3600 8th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35222
• Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Through Sept. 30, 2023, there have been 5,469 domestic violence incidents reported and 461 arrests made in Birmingham.

One Place Metro Alabama Family Justice Center found, in a recent report, 74% of homicide offenders in Jefferson County in 2021 had a history of domestic violence.

Police say the number of domestic violence calls does not constitute the true quantity of domestic violence that citizens experience because many people keep abuse to themselves. Others may wait until abuse worsens before asking for help, too often because they do not know what resources are available.

Police and advocates recommend sharing domestic violence resources whenever it is possible.