ECONOMY TAKES TOLL ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS

(Artist-Mali Kouanchao ~ theme picture for the MCBW 2008 Statewide Annual Conference)

The ripple effect of an economic crisis touches each and every American.  This is particularly true for victims of domestic violence who are seeking help to rebuild lives that have been shattered by an abuser.  At a time when more and more victims are reaching out for support and services, domestic violence programs throughout the country and the state of Minnesota are struggling to meet the increasing requests for help.

During stressful economic times, domestic violence programs experience a significant upswing in requests for services by victims.  This includes increased crisis calls to hotlines, and requests for shelter, counseling, legal services, transitional housing and services for children.  A bad economy does not cause domestic violence; however, there are a number of factors linked to poor economic conditions that are closely associated with domestic violence:

• Deteriorating financial circumstances faced by battered women who have lost jobs, housing or health care place them at greater risk for abuse - right now, many victims are unable to meet even their most basic needs such as housing, food, and safety.
• Cuts to legal aid, law enforcement, the courts, corrections, probation and other key public safety systems increases demand on the services provided by advocacy programs trying to fill some of the gaps.
• We are hearing reports across the state of increased severity of violence and more abuse by batterers who have lost jobs and are now home more with the families.
• Meanwhile, victims who are in shelter are having trouble finding jobs and affordable housing - leading to increased length of stay and higher turn-away rate for others who are seeking safety.
• As shelters and safe homes become increasingly scarce or full - women are sometimes forced to stay longer in unsafe home situations which leaves them more vulnerable to continued violence.

The MCBW is working hard every day to help ensure that funding is sustained for programs throughout Minnesota so that domestic violence victims' calls for life-saving help are answered.   

This is a crisis that affects each of us - our friends, our neighbors, our families. It is time to join together and to take action...together we can ensure that a family's needs for safety are met so they can begin a life free of violence.

• Count me in!  I would like to be a partner!

• Facts, information and action steps you can take to help end domestic violence.

• Check out resources on how to prevent intimate partner violence before it starts.

Thank you for taking action with us to end domestic violence in Minnesota!