By: Marisol Cristobal-Lucas & Angelica Raya Trejo, San Luis Valley Immigrant Resource Center
October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month—a time to reflect on the barriers survivors face and how we can support their healing. Among these barriers, language and culture play a pivotal role. For many, accessing support isn’t just about safety—it’s about being understood and respected within the context of their lived experiences.
At the SLV Immigrant Resource Center (SLVIRC), we’ve seen firsthand how critical culturally responsive and bilingual advocacy is. Survivors often come to us carrying deep fear—not only of their abuser but of systems that feel unreachable. Some hesitate to report violence due to fear of detention or deportation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Others remain silent due to language barriers or cultural stigma that frames domestic violence as shameful.
One survivor we supported spoke Q’anjob’al and had been married to a U.S. citizen. She faced emotional, verbal, and physical abuse, along with threats tied to her immigration status. Isolated and fearful, she didn’t know her rights or how to communicate with providers. Once referred to SLVIRC, she received interpretation services and culturally informed advocacy that allowed her to safely tell her story. Her healing began the moment she was heard in her own language—a powerful first step toward reclaiming safety and agency.
Cultural differences can also lead to harmful misunderstandings. In parts of Latin America, “abandono de hogar” (home abandonment) can carry legal consequences, even in abuse cases. Immigrant survivors in the U.S. may wrongly believe leaving an abusive partner means risking custody or legal trouble. In reality, U.S. law protects survivors who leave unsafe homes. Helping survivors understand this difference can be life-changing—it can be the difference between silence and seeking help.
But understanding legal and cultural barriers is only part of the solution. Survivors also need reliable, well-funded support systems. Across Colorado, critical programs—trauma counseling, emergency shelter, interpretation services—are being scaled back due to major funding cuts. In 2023, VOCA (Victims of Crime Act) funds supported over 230 organizations serving nearly 175,000 victims. But in 2024, those funds were slashed by more than 40%. Though existing grants were extended temporarily, a 27% cut in 2025 forced many organizations to reduce or eliminate vital services (Colorado Division of Criminal Justice, 2024).
This is especially devastating in rural regions like the San Luis Valley, where organizations like Tu Casa, Inc. and SLVIRC play a critical role. Funding losses limit access, silence survivors, and heighten barriers—especially for immigrant and rural communities where language and culture already pose challenges to safety.
Supporting survivors requires more than just funding—it demands a commitment to cultural responsiveness and language access. When survivors are heard in their own language and supported within their cultural context, healing becomes possible.
This Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we’re reminded: breaking the silence begins with listening—and listening begins with language. To truly support survivors, we must fight for both resources and culturally responsive care, ensuring every survivor has a voice.
