Domestic violence centers in the United States, specifically domestic violence shelters, are a result of the process of organizing for social change to address the problem of domestic violence. Shelters provide safety and refuge for women, as well as basic needs such as housing and food. In addition, domestic violence centers offer continuing support for victims of violence through casework, advocacy, counseling, and other services. The pervasiveness of domestic violence in the United States is widely documented and is often referred to as intimate partner violence (IPV). Thus, IPV is violence perpetrated by a person's partner, such as a boyfriend, a spouse, a former intimate partner, or other individual intimate known to the victim. Overall, 25.5 percent of U.S. women are victims of intimate partner ...