How LifeWire serves abuse survivors despite rising costs, federal chaos

For LifeWire, a Bellevue-based support center for domestic violence survivors, 2025 has been a year of hard choices.

Funding cuts and climbing costs pinching service providers around Puget Sound did not spare LifeWire. The center, formerly known as Eastside Domestic Violence Program, operates emergency shelters for people escaping domestic violence while providing advocacy services, counseling and survivor support groups.

LifeWire, the largest comprehensive domestic violence services provider in the state, provides housing, counseling and other assistance to 1,000 or so survivors each year. It also operates a 24-hour help line (425-746-1940 or 800-827-8840).

Keeping those lifesaving services available on the organization’s $5.5 million annual operating budget required a steely assessmen