Shelters, support groups for those experiencing domestic violence prepare for holiday season
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Did you know that one in three women and one in four men have experienced violence, psychological abuse, rape, economic abuse or stalking in their lifetime by an intimate partner?
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), domestic abuse is defined as "the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. It includes physical violence, sexual violence, threats, economic and emotional/psychological abuse."
In Pennsylvania alone, roughly 44 emergency calls are made per hour and 2,500 people are assisted by state-run domestic violence programs in a single day. NCADV's Pennsylvania statistics show almost 200 people are turned away daily due to a lack of resources.
But why should families be on the lookout for signs of domestic violence over the holiday season?
Connections for Abused Women and their Children (CAWC) said, "One of the most significant contributors to the rise in domestic violence during the holidays is financial stress. The pressure to buy gifts, host gatherings, and meet societal expectations can strain household budgets. This financial burden often exacerbates existing tensions within relationships, making it a trigger for violent behavior...The expectation to maintain a cheerful demeanor, coupled with the stress of family interactions, can lead to heightened emotions."
This is amplified by the amount of time many working adults have off around the holidays, leading to an increased likelihood of alcohol and drug consumption which inhibits self-control and restraint. It also poses a risk for any children who may be residing in an unhappy home. There are no opportunities to tell a school official or unbiased party of any violence they may be witnessing or experiencing over long holiday breaks.
NCADV reports over 20,000 phone calls are made every day in the United States to domestic abuse hotlines and roughly 10 million people are victims of physical abuse by an intimate partner. NCADV also lists on their website violent crime statistics that are often overlooked or written off by victims, including how "65% of all murder-suicides involve an intimate partner [and] 96% of the victims of these crimes are female."
For those who may not know where to turn, there are several shelters for individuals and their families to escape from abuse while rebuilding and maintaining independence.
YWCA of Northcentral PA is an option for individuals in Lycoming County. Direct Service Supervisor Heather Reeder explained that the organization's goal is "to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all."
They have two programs aimed at eliminating hardship and counseling abuse survivors and families. "The Liberty House program is a supportive housing program for homeless women/women with children. The Wise Options program is a comprehensive victim service center addressing the needs of survivors and their children...If any of the services we offer are in need, they can be accessed by calling our 24/7 crisis hotline at 800-326-8483."
The YWCA also provides counseling services to minors over the age of 13 without a consenting guardian. They can access all services if accompanied by an adult.
When asked of the daily struggles within YWCA, Reeder said, "Crises occur daily and caseloads are high. Constantly hearing and seeing the worst of society and social problems can dim even the most positive outlook. Add in the low pay rate, exceptionally high rate of burnout and the lack of acknowledgement that the community has for seeing violence and homelessness as an epidemic, is what I believe the most heartbreaking part about working for the YWCA."
YWCA of Northcentral PA can be contacted at 570-322-4637.
Transitions of PA in Lewisburg "is committed to ending all forms of violence and oppression by providing safe, survivor-centered resources, prevention, education and mobilization for social change within our communities." They offer both family and individual housing accommodations with no age restrictions. Their counseling services are available 24/7 on their hotline, 800-850-7948.
When asked what situations they are often involved in mitigating, a Transitions representative said, "Our Safe House locations are available to victims/survivors of Domestic Violence. Our Counseling and Legal Advocates are available to all victims/survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and other violent crimes. Our custody, visitation and monitoring center accommodates a safe place for victim/survivor and abuser to honor their parental rights."
Roads to Peace, formerly the Clinton County Women's Center in Lock Haven also provides assistance to victims of abuse and their families. Their mission statement reads, "We believe that all people have the right to a life free from the fear of violence. We further believe in the resiliency of the human spirit and the ability of individuals to control their own lives. We provide quality services and community collaboration to promote safety and freedom from domestic and sexual violence by empowering individuals to define their own lives."
Roads to Peace offers shelter for adults and any dependent children they may have, though cannot provide shelter to minors alone. However, to both minors and adults, they offer a 24-hour hotline, information and referral, individual and group counseling, support groups, community education/training, as well as legal, medical, youth, housing and LGBTQ+ advocacy.
"Counseling services are available to anyone who wants to talk about domestic violence and/or sexual assault," Cheyenne Karichner, domestic/sexual violence educator and volunteer coordinator with Roads to Peace, said. "Counseling sessions can be provided in person, over Zoom, or over the phone per client request."
The 24/7 hotline for Roads to Peace is 570-748-9509.
Karichner went on to say her favorite part about working with the shelter is "watching individuals come to the shelter as victims, restoring their autonomy, seeing clients grow with resiliency and becoming the survivors of their storm."
The Gate House Transitional Housing and Care Center of Columbia and Montour Counties provides shelter, referrals and counseling services for those at risk of homelessness for various reasons. Individuals looking for assistance must be 18 years of age or older, though minors can be accommodated if accompanied by an adult.
"Our goal is to provide a safe, secure and learning environment for the homeless families and individuals of our communities," The Gate House Executive Director Thomas Dougher, said. "We have five family rooms and two rooms dedicated to individuals -- men and women. We have a capacity of 28 people, however, we have at times accommodated more by utilizing cots in our common room. We average over 12 phone calls a day for people who are suffering some sort of housing crisis. We usually have no vacancies to assist and offer referrals hoping that those agencies can help."
Though not primarily for abuse survivors, The Gate House provides resources that are designed to revive the client's independence and avoid housing insecurity.
"Through referrals, we offer programming related to educational, career and technical training along with employability skills and life skills training. We try to get to the root of the reason someone is in a homeless situation and provide them with the resources available so that homelessness will not occur," Dougher said.
The Gate House Transitional Housing and Care Center of Columbia and Montour Counties can be contacted at 570-275-6766.
The biggest challenge facing shelters today is a lack of room, funding or supplies, which makes escaping volatile home life difficult to escape. This holiday season, advocates ask that people consider donating repeat gifts, clothes, shoes, hygiene products, diapers or an extra bottle of laundry detergent to a shelter.