United 4 Safety

United 4 Safety is a collaboration of agencies and experts within the metro Atlanta area working to reduce the incidence of intimate partner violence within the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQQI) community by improving the community’s understanding of and response to domestic violence through education, training and resource development. To date, United 4 Safety consists of forty individuals representing sixteen organizations. The members of United 4 Safety understand that survivors of intimate partner violence from the LGBTQQI community are underserved by traditional providers (i.e. law enforcement, hospitals, community-based organizations, etc.).  Often LGBTQQI survivors of domestic violence are reluctant to seek assistance from law enforcement or traditional domestic violence agencies because of the fear of being victimized again due to homophobic prejudice or lack of understanding. In February 2009, United 4 Safety was granted official status as a member of the National Coalition of Anti-violence Programs.

United 4 Safety endeavors to fill gaps in services by pursuing the goals of:

1) Establishing a helpline staffed by trained advocates who can assess and provide resource to those members of the LGBTQQI community affected by intimate partner violence;

2) Increasing outreach and education to service providers to provide culturally competent, survivor sensitive services to members of the LGBTQQI community;

3) Increasing outreach and education about intimate partner violence and available resources within the LGBTQI community.