Domestic Violence Resource Center’s New Normal

The Domestic Violence Resource Center’s new normal:

Restrictions on traditional shelter capacity and requiring social distancing amongst individuals at our three residential facilities continue to be our new normal. Our emergency shelter program has expanded to include sheltering at local long-stay motels. The number of new shelter/motel bed nights increased by more than 40% from March to April due to this expansion. We are funding this expanded shelter program thanks to generous gifts from individuals and private foundations in our community.

Programmatically, residential clients (shelter, motel and transitional housing) are continuing to set and revise goals to create their paths toward self-sufficiency and independence. To help with this process residents have access free telephonic counseling and support groups in both English and Spanish.

As expected and reported previously, the Domestic Violence Resource Center continues to see an increase in the need for services. From March to April, hotline calls increased by 77%. Of those calls, the majority were requests for domestic violence shelter and for assistance with the Temporary Protection Order process. Our experience is aligned with national trends; click here to review this recent Huffington Post article that describes what it is like to be a victim of a pandemic within a pandemic – a domestic violence pandemic.

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