A domestic violence shelter could save your life if an abusive relationship threatens your well-being, but would you use one? Believing that only homeless or lower-income people take advantage of such services is believing a myth. The CDD's National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey indicates that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have been victims of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. People who seek emergency safety at shelters are from all walks of life - including business owners, post-graduates, and even those with PhDs. Domestic violence shelters (find one via EAP) are vital resources for protection against abuse. Shelters accept children, and some in Alabama State are gender inclusive.