Public Policy

Public Policy

We lead on policy and systems change efforts that improve responses to gender-based violence and promote safe, just communities for all.

Four illustrated figures also stand with large toothy smiles. The central figure raised their arms

What We Do

Engaging in public policy at the city and county level is an important way the Coalition supports community-based, member programs and survivors of gender-based violence.

A few examples of our public policy efforts include:

  • Legal, employment and eocnomic protections of survivors of gender based violence
  • Reforms and alternatives to criminal/legal responses to gender based violence
  • Increasing funding for the wide array of gender based violence services and supports that member programs provide to our community such as prevention, survivor-driven advocacy, and housing support.
  • Supporting a sustainable and robust community care and human services sector.

Why we do this work

We believe that it is critical for elected leaders, decision makers, and the broader public to understand how various policies may impact the unique needs of  survivors of gender-based violence and the community-based programs that survivors turn to for support. We connect, educate, and mobilize our community on relevant policy efforts so as to better advocate for policies that support the safety, well-being, and self-determination of survivors of gender-based violence. 

Additionally, we know policy is improved when we work together, so we build strong collaborations with other coalitions working in the areas of racial and social justice, ending homelessness, community care and human services, immigrant rights, reproductive justice, and much more.

Projects

Ensure Stable & Robust Funding for Survivors of Gender-Based Violence

Survivors deserve to have their courageous disclosure of abuse met with a robust network of well-resourced advocates they can call upon when they need support. Meaningful investments in services for survivors of gender-based violence is essential to this goal.

Our field has been chronically underfunded and under-invested in. Making matters worse, we are facing a perfect storm of budget cuts at all levels of government-federal, state, and local.

In case you want to take action or see what we’re up to, below are a range of action alerts, bills, legislation, and advocacy efforts that we are amplifying in support of survivors and the gender-based violence programs that support them.

  • We supported the following amendments which were included in the 2026 Seattle budget.
    • HSD-061-A | supports sexual assault survivors
    • HSD-062-A | supports gender-based violence survivors
    • HSD-063-A | supports immigrant and refugee survivors
    • HSD-064-A | supports survivors of commercial sexual exploitation
  • We stood with our partners at Seattle Human Services Coalition in supporting their entire package of budget recommendations such as wage equity, food access, and support for seniors.
  • We supported the ballot initiative, Shield Seattle
  • We supported CB 121000 to protect renters from the harms of algorithmic rent fixing.
  • We supported restoring the MIDD Expansion funds in the King County Budget so that survivors with behavioral health needs can continue to get support they deserve.

Action Items:

Engaging in Public Policy 

Are you curious about what is happening at the local level and what decisions are being made by your representatives? Do you feel nervous about giving public comments to elected officials or don’t quite know how to get connected to this work?

You’re not alone and it can be confusing! We would love to connect and help support your engagement with local efforts to end gender-based violence.

Want to know more?

If you’d like to know more about our public policy efforts, want to get more involved, or just feel curious about what we’re working on in the policy space, please reach out!

Amarinthia Torres, Co-Executive Director of Policy amarinthia@endgv.org.

the outside of Seattle City Hall with steps leading up to the doors
King County Council chambers with an American flag and empty chairs
a group of people including King County Councilmembers stand smiling and holding up a letter stating october is domestic violence awareness month
a screenshot of the mission and vision of the Coalition and a small picture of a CEGV staff member sharing remarks to the Seattle City Council.
CEGV Co-ED speaks at a podium with a group of supporters standing behind her
The Mayor of Seattle, City Councilmembers, and non-profit and small business leaders smile and stand together.

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