BY JAN M. MCCRAY, J.D
Chief Executive Officer
Esperanza Shelter

“I didn’t know this kind of help existed until I called.”

We hear some version of that sentence often. A survivor picks up the phone, walks through our doors, or gets a name and number from a friend, a nurse, a judge—and finds out there’s a place built to help them find freedom.

This October, during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, let’s talk about a number that looks alarming until you understand what’s driving it: last year, Esperanza Shelter served 54% more clients than the year before and provided 82% more services. That growth isn’t a sign domestic violence is increasing in Santa Fe, Los Alamos and surrounding communities it’s a sign more survivors are finding help.

In fiscal year 2026, we served 663 survivors—597 adults and 66 children—up from 431 the year before. We provided 7,644 services: hotline calls, counseling, community advocacy, and court advocacy. We logged 5,018 shelter nights, and made 895 referrals connecting survivors to housing, legal aid, and healthcare to start healing.

One number stands out. Court advocacy—the work of standing beside a survivor through the protective order process, the custody hearing, the arraignment—grew 295%, from 156 clients and 1,012 services to 219 clients and 4,006 services. That number matters, as a protective order is only as strong as a survivor’s ability to navigate the process that gets it—and enforce it afterward. Without an advocate, survivors face a challenging system, but each of those 4,006 services demonstrates a time they did not have to face it alone. Similarly, every counseling program saw significant growth: 36% more clients and 18% more sessions.

This growth didn’t happen because domestic violence suddenly got worse. It happened because more people know we’re here. Judges, nurses, teachers, and neighbors recognize the signs and make the referral. This growth happens when the community trusts help will be there when they reach out. That trust matters, because domestic violence still thrives in silence. Nationally, 1 in 3 womenand 1 in 4 men will experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime. In New Mexico, that number is higher at 1 in 3, regardless of gender. Survivors are three times as likely to have suicidal thoughts and six times as likely to face a substance use disorder. Children who grow up in these homes carry psychological effects that can last a lifetime.

That’s why the work matters, and why it’s working: 97% of clients say they feel very much, a lot, or somewhat hopeful about the future after receiving services. Esperanza means hope — and we’re helping build it.

So, this October, we’re asking you to do something with this information. If you’re worried about someone—a friend, a coworker, a family member—the most useful thing you can do is listen and believe them, without pressure to leave or explain themselves on your timeline. If you want to help more broadly, volunteer or give to your local domestic violence organization;
the advocates and counselors behind these numbers are the reason survivors are finding their
way to safety. And if you are the one living through this: if you are in danger, call now. Our 24/7 hotline is 505-416-7184 (or 888-473-5312), and our services are free, confidential, and offered in English and Spanish, whether or not you’re ready to leave.

Six hundred and sixty-three people came to Esperanza Shelter this year because they needed somewhere to turn, and we’re glad they found us. Our job now is to make sure the next person does too.