10/13/2026
Today we are holding deep sadness with the news that a Chittenden County community member's life was tragically ended by intimate partner violence (IPV). Our hearts go out to the family members impacted by this act of violence, and to those in the communities surrounding the family.
This horrific loss of life has happened in too many families here in Vermont, with domestic violence being associated with 44% of all Vermont homicides in the past 20 years. Nationally, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men will experience harm by an intimate partner in their lifetimes — including physical, emotional and verbal abuse. The devastating impact of IPV reverberates outward - affecting survivors' children, their families, friends, neighbors and coworkers
The news about domestic violence can be hard to process, often bringing up memories of harm that you — or those around you — have experienced. Steps' Advocates are available 24/7 on our hotline at 802-658-1996 - we encourage those impacted to care for themselves, lean on their support systems and their community, and to call Steps for support.
Intimate partner violence is preventable; you can join the movement to end violence by believing survivors and validating their experiences, educating yourself on issues related to IPV, and supporting the work Steps is doing each day to keep people safe.
Today, we witness the collective harm that intimate partner violence has on individuals, families, and communities, we grieve the lives lost to this all-too-prevalent issue, and we recommit to our mission of ending intimate partner violence across Chittenden County.
Steps will be hosting our annual survivor speakout and vigil on Thursday, October 29th, from 5pm-7pm at the top of Church St in Burlington. All are welcome to march in solidarity with survivors and in remembrance of lives lost.
We're here for you.💜
