In a poem about seeking asylum, Warsan Shire writes, “No one puts their children in a boat unless the water is safer than the land.” As individuals around our state take stock of the election results, one thing seems clear: Policies of justice and equity won where leaders of those policies failed. Abortion rights and fair wages won in states where the party of those policies lost. So much of life — and safety — is about relationships. Do I trust that this person understands my needs and can keep me safe? At my organization The Network, our work is built on trust as we collaborate every day with our affiliate organizations to provide services to gender-based violence survivors in Chicago and across Illinois. The success of our work rests on whether our community provides a safety net strong enough to counteract life-altering trauma. If not, survivors return to abusive relationships, situations they often navigated for many years prior. For many survivors, the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t. Right now, survivors of gender-based violence need direct action to counteract what is coming, and they want to know leaders can deliver on promises. In Chicago and across Illinois, we have leaders rightly taking a stand against the most extreme threats of the incoming federal administration. But we also have survivors and advocates who are deeply disturbed and seriously concerned about the trajectory of our government.  In 2017, President Donald Trump reduced funding through the Violence Against Women Act by 93%. The Heritage Foundation, author of the Project 2025 blueprint for the next administration, has written that the Violence Against Women Act is fundamentally flawed and responses to gender-based violence should be left up to the states. These are extreme positions that could fundamentally change — and undermine — the landscape for gender-based violence prevention. If that’s the case, we need our leaders to put their money and their legislative prowess where their words are. Survivors and advocates have an actionable safety plan at the local, state and federal level. Luckily, there are actions our leaders can take right now to make an impact as we prepare for the future. Related Articles Commentary | Man suspected of killing estranged wife before being found dead was previously released on electronic monitoring At the state level, we need the Illinois General Assembly to pass Karina’s Bill to strengthen the laws that help remove firearms from domestic abusers. This commonsense legislation would clarify state statute and give judges and law enforcement the tools they need to ensure orders of protection are effective when firearms are involved. When survivors go to the courts for protection, we must ensure that protection works. In Chicago, we must fully fund services for gender-based violence in the city budget by maintaining current levels of American Rescue Plan Act funding and increasing the home-share fee by 2% in Chicago. Similarly, at the state level, we must implement a fee on home-share rentals in Illinois to add additional funding to gender-based violence services through the Illinois Department of Human Services. These are modest fee increases paid primarily by visitors that will add desperately needed funding for responding to gender-based violence as we expect to see an increase in need. Survivor services are in high demand, and violent or misogynistic rhetoric from national figures can embolden abusers at a time when federal support is in danger. We need the leaders at all levels of local and state government to step up and ensure we have the funds necessary to protect survivors. Finally, we must ensure that Chicago and Illinois remain a haven for individuals seeking asylum and LGBTQ+ individuals. We expect to see increased federal attention in the months to come, and if our state and local leaders stand strong against xenophobia and bigotry, that sends a strong message to residents that hate and violence will not be tolerated in Illinois. Those in marginalized and threatened communities are watching our state and local leaders, and we must continue to make it clear that Illinois and Chicago are safe, welcoming places. Now is a time for action and rebuilding trust with marginalized communities left at risk with no clear plan for safety. Our state and city have the resources to navigate this difficult time, and by working together, we can ensure that whoever is in the White House does not impede our progress here at home. Amanda Pyron is president and CEO of The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence, a group of 40-plus member organizations dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by gender-based violence through education, public policy and advocacy and connecting community members with service providers.  Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email [email protected].