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The New York City Police Department respond to 650 calls of domestic violence a day, and most come from women being abused by men. So the Bronx's Violence Intervention Program, or VIP, fights to keep its doors open to help abused women.

"Don't ever underestimate the violence. Don't ever underestimate it. That is why a lot of women get killed," says Cecilia Gaston of VIP.

VIP was started in 1984 in East Harlem to help Latino women. More than 25 five years later, it has offices in Manhattan and Queens, besides its two main offices in the Bronx. At any given time, VIP houses house dozens of women of all backgrounds and their children as they try to escape abusive relationships.

"We also specialize in the undocumented. A lot of people don't want to deal with them, so we have to raise money," says Gaston.

VIP has partnered with the New York Women's Foundation and the Mexican consulate to raise money for Mexican women in need of help, as a lot of federal funding cannot be used to assist illegal immigrants.

Guadalupe Perez, who is now an advocate for other Mexican women, says VIP gave her the strength she needed.

"I don't want to remember when I came here. It is so hard. I came here really, really, really bad," says Perez. "Right now, my self-esteem is up."

VIP also operates the state's domestic violence and sexual abusive hotline. The Bronx borough president's office honored VIP for Women's History Month for their efforts in helping other women.

The program says last year it served about 1,000 abused women and answered more than 18,000 calls from women looking for help. That just a fraction of the more than 140,000 calls the city hotline received about families dealing with domestic violence.

To receiving get help getting out of an abusive relationship you can call 1-800-942-6908 or 311, or visit vipmujeres.org.