Seattle Stands with Survivors

To our Seattle community,  

Too many messages have been sent to victims and survivors of sexual assault and other forms of gender-based violence that we shouldn’t be believed and that our pain doesn’t matter.  

The Seattle Stands with Survivors, Every Step campaign stands firm against that message the culture that fosters the violence to begin with. 

Councilmember Rinck speaking at a podium with a sign that reads "Stand with Survivors. Every Step.", many people in the background wearing orange, purple, and teal

Announced alongside survivor services providers, public health and medical institutions, community leaders, and elected officials during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, this multi-year campaign seeks to grow City investments into gender-based violence survivor services and prevention programs. The three-pronged strategy looks at three key investment areas including:  

  1. Accountability for Abusers and Justice for Survivors 
  2. Direct Survivor Services  
  3. Prevention 

To advance this work, I have sponsored an amendment to add $8M to Mayor Katie Wilson’s 2027-2028 proposed budget. As a companion to this work, I have also sponsored a Statement of Legislative Intent (SLI) to require City departments to provide progress reports on the issue to the Human Services, Labor & Economic Development (HSLED) Committee beginning in 2027.  

I am also co-sponsoring an amendment alongside Councilmember Foster to provide the City Attorney’s Office (CAO) with $1 million in one-time funding to clear the 5,000 criminal case backlog. Around one-third of cases, around 1,700, in the CAO’s criminal backlog are related to domestic violence, elder and child abuse, and stalking. This means some survivors have been waiting for years to know the outcome of their case after having the courage to come forward in the first place.  

Whether you are aware or not, everyone knows a survivor of gender-based violence. I hold out hope that we can change that, and my office is working alongside community to work toward that ever-shifting goal.

- Councilmember Rinck, Chair of the Human Services, Labor, and Economic Development 

Councilmember Rinck speaking at a podium, many people sit on the stairs behind her and are wearing orange, purple, and teal

What's Next?

The next key dates for the Seattle City Budget Process are: 

  • October 28 and 29 @ 9:30 a.m. - Committee discussion of councilmember budget proposals/amendments. 
  • November 4 @ 9:30 a.m. - Committee discussion of the budget chair’s balancing package proposal.  
  • November 5 @ 1 p.m. - Remote Public Comment 
  • November 5 @ 5 p.m. - In Person Public Hearing at Seattle City Hall 

All meetings can be viewed on the award-winning Seattle Channel.  

Seattle Stands with Survivors, Every Step – In the News 

From Cornell to SNL to Trump, We Face Misogyny That Must Change (Naomi Ishisaka, Seattle Times)  

Rinck Pushes Against Gender-Based Violence, Facing Budget Headwinds (Amy Sunberg, The Urbanist)  

Why Now? 

While violent crime has generally trended down in recent years, rates of domestic and intimate partner violence and homicides have notably increased.  

Domestic violence remains a leading cause of homelessness for women and children, with 37% of families utilizing King County’s Emergency Family Shelter Intake line in 2022 fleeing domestic violence. In Seattle, nearly one-third of all cases referred to the Seattle City Attorney’s Office (CAO) from the Seattle Police Department (SPD) are related to domestic violence.  

Domestic violence makes up almost one-third of all cases referred to the City Attorney’s Office by the Seattle Police Department. In 2025, the number of domestic violence deaths in King County were higher than even during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.  

While under funding of survivor services and prevention programs have been losing funding for years, the situation has only worsened under the second Trump Administration as organizations across Seattle and King County serving survivors are being directly impacted by funding cuts and rule changes, including: 

  • Changes within H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) reduced millions of dollars in resources within Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) federal grant programs that fund survivor services and prevention programs.
  • H.R. 1 additionally includes changes and cuts to survivor specific housing assistance programs within the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  
  • Weakening of Title IX rules on college and university campuses that make it more difficult for student survivors to seek investigations and justice.
  • Attempts to exclude federal funding to organizations that provide survivor services and emergency housing support for LGBTQIA+ survivors under bans on diversity, equity, and inclusion. These exclusions are being challenged in the courts, but many small organizations are no longer pursuing them. 

Survivor & Victim Resources – City of Seattle  

Survivor & Victim Resources – Community

City Council

Address: 600 4th Ave. 2nd Floor, Seattle, WA, 98104
Mailing Address: PO Box 34025, Seattle, WA , 98124-4025
Phone: (206) 684-8888
Fax: (206) 684-8587
Meet the Council

The Seattle City Council establishes City policy through enactment of ordinances (laws) and adoption of resolutions. The City Council also approves and adopts the City's budget. The nine Council members and their legislative assistants are part of the City of Seattle Legislative Department.