ARLINGTON’S RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE
Doorways offers a wide range of trauma-informed crisis response services and comprehensive shelter and housing programs designed to meet survivors’ complex needs. Our streamlined response enables survivors to access all of our supports easily, no matter which of our programs they initially contact.
Out in our community, we cultivate a culture of safety and respect to help prevent violence, while working to ensure that anyone in need of our services is able to access support. We are active leaders in collaborative efforts including Arlington’s Continuum of Care and Project PEACE. Together with our neighbors, we create pathways to brighter futures.
Join us today! Visit www.doorwaysva.org/join-our-cause to learn about ways to donate, volunteer, host an educational workshop, and more opportunities to help make our mission possible.
PRIVACY NOTICE
We care about everyone in our Doorways community and value the privacy of all of our clients, donors, and volunteers equally.
To protect client safety and confidentiality, client names and identifying information are changed, and images used are stock photos of models, for illustrative purposes only.
Due to the increased use of technology, including artificial intelligence (AI) to mine for and share information, we are not including a list of our supporters‘ or volunteers’ names in this report.
FROM DOORWAYS’ PRESIDENT & CEO
Dear friends,
2024 was another record-breaking year for Doorways:
Our Safehousing sheltered 70 households — a record high.
Our HomeStart housing program supported 65 households, a 27% increase compared to 2023.
Our Children’s Services provided 1,053 sessions, a 63% increase.
To address the growing need for safehousing, we revitalized and repurposed our Family Home shelter to serve as Doorways’ new Safehouse, doubling our safehousing capacity.
While our community’s needs have continued to grow, and Doorways has expanded our capacity to respond, funding for victim services has been cut year over year. Local government funding for our programs has remained flat since 2015, and federal funding has decreased drastically.
The Washington Post covered how cuts to one source, the Crime Victims Fund, is impacting programs like ours, featuring Doorways and our clients. Scan this QR code to read more at www.doorwaysva.org/wapo.
At this critical time, we need your help more than ever. Everyone deserves to be safe from harm. Your continued investment in Doorways’ client-centered, trauma-informed services for survivors is so very important.
We thank you for your support and partnership, which make Doorways’ mission possible.
With appreciation,
Diana Ortiz, M.Ed. LPC President and CEO
THE DOORWAYS MODEL
Doorways’ response to domestic and sexual violence spans a spectrum from preventing violence, to supporting survivors throughout our community, to providing safehousing (emergency shelter) and supportive housing for survivors experiencing homelessness due to violence.
SHELTER AND HOUSING
Doorways provides Arlington’s only emergency shelter, called safehousing, for survivors experiencing homelessness due to the imminent danger of domestic and sexual violence.
After shelter, HomeStart, Doorways’ supportive housing program, assists clients as they transition from shelter into to a home of their own.
SHELTER: SAFEHOUSING & FAMILY HOME
Doorways is Arlington’s only provider of safehousing for survivors, their families, and their pets in imminent danger due to domestic and sexual violence. In recent years, the number of survivors sheltered has more than doubled. Due to this growing need, we revitalized and renovated the Family Home to serve as the new Safehouse, doubling our safehousing capacity.
2024 marked the last year of Doorways’ Family Home serving as one of Arlington County’s shelters for families and young adults experiencing homelessness not due to this imminent danger. Peer providers including Bridges to Independence which operates Sullivan House, Arlington County’s largest family shelter continue to shelter these members of our community.
A record high of 70 households
found immediate safe harbor in Doorways’ safehousing, and 25 households experiencing homelessness were sheltered in the Family Home.
93% of Safehouse households
who disclosed their destination did not return to abusive living situations after leaving shelter, breaking the cycle of violence.
90% of Family
Home households
exited shelter to permanent housing, including our HomeStart Supportive Housing Program, with many clients moving into their own apartments.
URGENT, GROWING NEED FOR SAFEHOUSING
Everyone deserves to be safe from harm. For survivors, safehousing is a critical pathway to safety.
Doorways is Arlington’s only provider of safehousing for survivors in imminent danger due to domestic and sexual violence. Since 2018, the number of survivors sheltered has more than doubled.
A record high of 70 households were sheltered in Doorways’ safehousing in 2024. Survivors are facing higher risk of lethality and need safe harbor urgently to escape harm.
Total Households Sheltered in Doorways’ Safehousing
DOORWAYS CONTINUES T0 FACE DRASTIC FUNDING CUTS
While the need has grown, funding for victim services has been cut year over year. Local government funding for Doorways’ programs has remained flat since 2015, and federal funding has decreased drastically.
One federal funding source began deep cuts in 2018. The nationwide Crime Victims Fund (VOCA) cap was reduced to $1.35 billion in 2024, compared to $4.44 billion in 2018. This translated into a decrease of $200,000, or 11%, for Doorways in 2024 alone. Read The Washington Post’s coverage of this issue at www.doorwaysva.org/wapo.
HOUSING: HOMESTART
Doorways’ HomeStart Supportive Housing Program provides rapid rehousing and long-term supportive housing for individuals and families moving from shelter to a home of their own.
HomeStart fosters residential stability through intensive support services focused on skill-building, case management, and safety planning— combined with rental subsidies to prevent recurrence of homelessness and domestic and sexual violence.
65
households supported in HomeStart, a 27% increase compared to fiscal year 2023.
90% of households had safe, secure housing where they can remain long-term after exiting the HomeStart program.
“I have housing! My child has a diagnosis and is in school. I am working on myself more. I have a positive outlook on life now.
My caseworkers are the BEST! They are always there to help and guide me when needed. They have impacted my family in a positive way!” —HomeStart Client
I greatly appreciate what Doorways does for the community. Doorways was there for me and continues to support me during a very critical time in my life.
I am very thankful that organizations like Doorways exist. ”
—Doorways Client
CHILDREN’S SERVICES
Doorways’ dedicated Children’s Services offer a range of supports to kids, teens, and their parents in our shelter and housing programs, including the following:
Case management for children and families
Child-centered art and play-based therapies
Assistance with school, daycare, and summer camp enrollment, accommodations, and other learning resources
Help navigating and accessing additional community resources, such as medical care
To support Doorways’ Children’s Services, donate now to The Virginia McCaffrey Fund for Children at Doorways. Learn more and make your gift online at www.doorwaysva.org/virginia-mccaffrey-fund.
“Doorways has helped my child open up, express her feelings, and communicate. She loves to attend play therapy where we see a huge change with issues we had prior to coming.” —Shelter Client
81 children in 40 families
in Doorways’ shelter and housing programs were supported by dedicated Children’s Services.
1,053 Children’s sessions
were provided, a 63% increase compared to fiscal year 2023.
COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES
Doorways provides a spectrum of services for all survivors. Our crisis response operates 24/7 to provide support, safety planning, advocacy, info, and referrals to additional services, such as counseling, as needed.
Those additional services, including court advocacy and Revive counseling, help meet clients’ immediate and longer-term needs for safety and healing.
24/7 CRISIS RESPONSE
Doorways’ 24-Hour Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline: 703-237-0881
Every hour of every day of the year, Doorways is ready and waiting to respond to survivors in urgent need of assistance. Our hotline and hospital accompaniment programs connect survivors with advocates who can support them, any time, any day.
1,110 crisis calls answered by the hotline, including 883 where advocates provided crisis and supportive counseling for adults and children experiencing violence.
38 hospital accompaniments for forensic exams for sexual and/or domestic violence were provided by Doorways’ trained volunteers and staff.
“The more time that goes on the more I am impressed with the volunteer at the hospital. [My Revive therapist] has been major and instrumental in helping me piece my life back together.”
—Hospital
Accompaniment
and Revive Client
COURT ADVOCACY AND COUNSELING
Doorways’ Court Advocates work within the Arlington County courthouse to support survivors and connect them to additional resources. Revive offers individual therapy and support groups in-person and via telehealth.
187 adults with 150 children
were assisted by Doorways’ Court Advocates with services to obtain protective orders, child support, custody petitions, and other court judgements.
251 adults, youth, and kids
were provided with supportive counseling and safety planning by our Revive program. Counselors provided 2,315 therapy sessions.
“I
have learned to understand my situations and got help with getting custody of my son. This is a great resource for victims of domestic violence. “
—Court Advocacy and Revive Client
“My mental health has improved greatly post-assault. I was having trouble taking care of myself because I was mentally in a sad state. Doorways’ therapy sessions have taught me how to cope and recover in a healthy way. I feel fully supported here. ”
—Revive Client
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Doorways’ mission is made possible by our community working together to serve and empower survivors through safe shelter, housing, and supportive services. Doorways serves as a key collaborator within Arlington’s Safety Net, Arlington County’s Project PEACE, and Arlington County’s Homeless Services Continuum of Care and strategic plan to address homelessness in our community.
We are proud to be part of a community invested in preventing and ending domestic violence, sexual assault, and homelessness. Our many partners include nonprofits, coalitions, community groups, businesses, foundations, government agencies, and individuals like you!
You are a critical part of our response to domestic and sexual violence; this life-changing work would not be possible without you.
PREVENTION AND OUTREACH
Through educational programming, Doorways’ Prevention and Outreach Program promotes a community culture of safe and healthy relationships so that intimate partner violence and sexual assault are less likely to occur.
Doorways’ prevention programming is designed to shift attitudes, behaviors, and social norms to change the conditions that directly contribute to and perpetuate violence. Offerings include workshops, community activities like trivia and film viewings, and campaigns to promote healthy relationships and non-violent communication. Programming helps young people further develop protective factors, understand body autonomy, and live a life free of violence.
More than 600 people served
through educational and training events on topics that support the development of healthy relationships, as well as 23 outreach events.
VOLUNTEERS
Thank you to our amazing volunteers for giving your time to help fulfill the promise of our mission every day. We couldn’t do what we do without you!
The volunteers who serve in Doorways’ shelters and community-based programs undergo more than 40 hours of extensive training to gain the skills needed to support clients in crisis. Volunteers work hours-long shifts in round-the-clock programs, including our hotline and hospital accompaniment, as well as in our shelters and administrative offices.
Interested in volunteering? Visit www.doorwaysva.org/volunteer to learn more, apply online, and get started today!
117 volunteers served in 2024
in our shelters, hotline, hospital accompaniment, and more programs.
Volunteers served 9,290 hours including 2,465 hours of shelter coverage and 6,244 on-call hours for, or attending, hospital accompaniments for assault survivors.
Doorways provided 544 hours
of trauma-informed training on domestic violence, sexual assault, homelessness, and Doorways’ service delivery.
DONORS
We are grateful for each of our incredible supporters who make Doorways’ mission possible every day. Individual donors, businesses, and foundations provide about half of Doorways’ funding every year. These donors fill critical gaps in government funding, and enable us to provide the comprehensive, trauma-informed support our clients need. Their gifts ensure that we can meet our clients’ needs in the ways we’ve learned are most effective and impactful.
We thank our generous donors for investing in the services that survivors and their families need to achieve their goals for safety, stability, and empowerment. Offer your support now at www.doorwaysva.org/donate.
1,803* donors gave in 2024
including 590 who donated to Doorways for the first time. *Spouses/partners, businesses, and groups counted as 1 each. Gifts came from 35 U.S. states
Donors made 4,469 gifts
including 1,418 recurring gifts, such as Good Neighbor Club monthly donations.
with more than 80% coming from Virginia, and more than 70% of those coming from Arlington.
DOORWAYS NAMED 2024 NONPROFIT OF THE YEAR
Doorways was honored to be named Nonprofit of the Year at the Arlington Chamber of Commerce’s 38th Annual Arlington Best Business Awards. The Best Business Awards recognize the most distinguished and accomplished businesses that have made significant contributions to the Arlington community. Award recipients are nominated by the Chamber membership and are evaluated by a committee of past award winners.
Michelle Sagatov (left) and Diana Ortiz (right)
“We are honored to have earned this recognition of Doorways’ critical role in the Arlington community and our survivor-centered, value-driven approach,” said Michelle Sagatov, Doorways’ Board President. “As Arlington’s only provider of emergency safehousing, community-based services, and supportive housing for survivors and their families, we believe it is our responsibility to provide the best possible response to our neighbors in crisis and those seeking healing.”
“This award is a testament to the whole Doorways team and their ongoing hard work and dedication,” said Diana Ortiz, LPC, M.Ed., Doorways’ President and CEO. “Although we don’t do this for the recognition, we are always grateful for opportunities to celebrate the efforts of our staff and volunteers who make our mission possible.”
“It is an absolute honor and a great achievement for Doorways to receive the prestigious Arlington Nonprofit of the Year Award,” said Kate Bates, Arlington Chamber President and CEO. “The Chamber is pleased to present this award to them, and our community is fortunate to have such a great organization operating in Arlington.”
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR SUPPORT
Every year, Doorways relies on investments from local, state, and federal government agencies, community partners, businesses, and generous private donors—individuals, corporations, and foundations—to raise the millions of dollars required to prevent violence, support survivors, and build brighter futures for thousands of our neighbors. Supporters like you enable Doorways to meet each person where they are and empower them on their unique journey to success.
Thank you for giving the gifts of safe harbor, healing, and hope. You make a profound difference in the lives of survivors and their families.
We will continue to safeguard the financial resources that have been entrusted to us through an appropriate internal control environment, leading with transparency, and with an emphasis on strong budgetary control and routine periodic governance review. To learn more, please view Doorways’ complete audited financial statements on our
Thank you for your investment in our clients, our team, and our community! We appreciate you!
2024 FINANCIAL INFORMATION
To see our complete audited financial statements, please visit www.doorwaysva.org/publications.
Change in Net Assets 905,470 571,016 1,476,486 6,531,360 (163,101) $
The Relationship Spectrum
All relationships exist on a spectrum from healthy to abusive, with unhealthy relationships somewhere in the middle. Visit www.loveisrespect.org/relationship-spectrum to learn more.
Healthy Unhealthy Abusive
A healthy relationship means both you and your partner are:
Communicating Respectful
Trusting Honest Equal
Enjoying personal time away from each other
Making mutual choices
Economic/ financial partners
You may be in an unhealthy relationship if your partner is:
Not communicating Disrespectful Not trusting Dishonest
Trying to take control
Only spending time together
Pressured into activities
Unequal economically
Abuse is occurring in a relationship when one partner is:
Communicating in a hurtful or threatening way
Mistreating
Accusing the other of cheating when it's untrue
Denying their actions are abusive
Controlling
Isolating their partner from others
Content source: Questions about your relationship? Call Doorways’ 24-hour hotline at 703-237-0881 to ask an
