Utah domestic violence shelter saw rise in people reaching out for help, here's how you can help.

Salt Lake City

South Valley Services, a domestic violence shelter in Utah, has experienced a steady increase in requests for assistance since October 2024. Executive Director Lindsey Boyer reported a 68% rise in help requests from December 2024 to December 2025, a shift from the usual trend of fewer people seeking support during the holiday season.

The organization provides a 24-hour helpline, shelter, classes, and clinical therapy for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Boyer emphasized that the increase in outreach may reflect greater awareness or need, and encouraged survivors to take the first step by contacting available support services.

Utah domestic violence shelter saw rise in people reaching out for help

This time of year is often seen as a time to celebrate, but for domestic violence survivors, this time of year can be especially hard. We spoke to one local organization about the resources they say they have available for people in need, and they didn't expect just how many people would need them. The holidays are a time when a lot of survivors are just trying to get through South Valley Services is one of the many places in the state offering support for women, men and Children who have been impacted by domestic and sexual violence. Each year, their executive director, Lindsey Boyer, says they help more than 500 people in the community. According to their Domestic Violence Awareness Month campaign, the West Jordan Police Department received more than 1200 domestic violence calls in 2024 during the holiday season. Boyer says they typically don't see as many people reaching out for help and services, but this year is different. It's not uncommon for the requests for support to be a little slower through December, especially. But this year we've seen a steady increase since even October, and I don't know if that's a positive indication that there's a rise in increased awareness or an increase in need. This year, Boyer says they've experienced a steady increase in requests every month since September 2025. She says they saw a 68% increase in requests from December 2024 to December 2025. Boyer says even though they've seen that increase, it's a good sign that people are reaching out to seek help because it's a big display of courage. She adds that the easiest first step for a domestic violence survivor to take is calling their 24 hour helpline. They also offer shelter services, classes and clinical therapy, among other resources. To learn more about the programs and services in your area, you can visit the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition website for more information. For now, in West Jordan, Julia Sandor, Fox 13 News, Utah.

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Breakdown