Crime & Safety
Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline Received Record Number Of Calls In 2025, Leaving Shelters Strained
Calls to the hotline in 2025 reached the highest on record, but as more people reach out, there are fewer places for them to go.
April 16, 2026
The Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline received a record-breaking number of calls for help from domestic violence victims in 2025, leaving the system struggling to keep up, according to a report from the organization that runs the hotline.
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Calls to the hotline in 2025 reached the highest on record for the fifth year in a row, but as more people reach out, there are fewer places for them to go.
Sylvia Stech texted the hotline in a moment of fear and uncertainty.
