For many, staying indoors to halt the spread of the coronavirus is an inconvenience. For others living in a domestic violence situation, it’s a living nightmare.
“People are in imminent danger. There are a lot of shapes that could take — if they’re living with an abuser (that could mean) being in a much more violent situation. Or, if they’re separate from an abuser, it could mean being in a stalking situation,” said Sarah Fitzgibbons, events and collaborations coordinator at New England Center for Women in Transition (NELCWIT), which provides a range of services for those in Franklin County and the North Quabbin region seeking to escape domestic violence, among other things.
In the four years she’s worked at NELCWIT, Fitzgibbons said she’s never seen anything like the spike in activity at the center’s 24-hour emergency hotline. Previously, “There would be six hours when someone doesn’t call. That is not happening anymore. … We have definitely seen an increase in the complexity of the calls.”
On an average day, Fitzgibbons said the call center fields a slew of inquiries ranging from daily check-ins to emergency requests for restraining orders — which under typical circumstances were easy to fill but now require numerous follow-up calls, as physical offices are closed and emergency shelters have slowed services.
“Normally, we have the time and we are able to get people the resources,” Fitzgibbons said. But with courts closed, businesses temporarily shuttered and NELCWIT’s staff working remotely, what previously took one in-person visit is now an all-day endeavor requiring a half dozen phone calls. She compared the situation to “a pressure cooker for survivors living in dangerous situations. … Our expectation is that this situation is going to continue for at least another month.”
While it’s too early for exact figures, Rachel Gordon, co-executive director of NELCWIT, estimated calls to the center have increased by about a third since the pandemic began. Like Fitzgibbons, she expects the situation will only get worse.
“Certainly, vulnerability compounds. If people are struggling now, they’ll be struggling more if this situation continues,” Gordon said. “Isolation is a primary tool of abuse. A lot of people are isolated anyways right now; that compounds the situation. For abusers, for families, for everyone, the stress builds and makes it harder for everyone.”
Organizations throughout the region are reporting similar findings. Over the last three years, Mary A. Kociela, director of domestic and sexual violence projects for the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, said the office has averaged around 1,200 cases per year. It’s expected to be higher this year and there are currently around 250 active cases. Since mid-March, Kociela said domestic violence advocates have received 22 calls from the police regarding domestic violence-related situations. Of those, around 10 came in the last week. And while that number fluctuates often under normal circumstances, the recent spike is concerning because it “was particularly quiet and then a sharp increase in a short period of time,” Kociela said.
“With COVID-19 — isolation, closure of schools and businesses — that isolation is even worse. We’ve been really concerned about an increased risk for victims,” Kociela said. Since 1984, there have been 23 domestic violence-related homicides in Franklin County and the North Quabbin region. “My fear is that (the pandemic) will increase domestic violence-related homicides. That’s my bottom-line fear. I’m hoping that by us consistently getting the word out about what’s available if you’re in that situation, we’ll be able to bypass that.”
But even though it’s feared that violence within the home is increasing, reports of child abuse have plummeted, according to a press statement from Mary Carey, communications director with the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office. In light of this disturbing development, officials from the Massachusetts Children’s Alliance, Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance and Children’s League of Massachusetts have issued a joint call for help in detecting possible abuse.
“Whether it is neighbors seeing kids outside at play, out in public with adults, or relatives and teachers interacting with them via Zoom or other video exchange, anyone having contact with children is urged to look for the following signs. Physical appearance: signs of bruises, marks, injuries, hygiene, or attire; environment: signs of violence, drug and alcohol abuse, or family dysfunction; behavior: change in mood or presentation, distress, or outcries of abuse; engagement: changes in participation, interaction, and communication; supervision: access to a responsible adult and their level of involvement,” the statement says.
Suspected abuse should be directed to the Department of Children and Families’ Child-At-Risk Hotline at 800-792-5200. Reports can be made anonymously if necessary.
It’s not just a local concern.
“Statewide, we know that every agency is facing similar concerns with our clients and our populations worldwide,” Gordon said. “The dynamics of abuse are the same everywhere you go.”
Globally, the United Nations has projected a 20 percent rise in gender-based violence. António Guterres, the UN’s secretary-general, warned in a recent statement that “Peace is not just the absence of war. Many women under lockdown for COVID19 face violence where they should be safest: in their own homes.” Further compounding the crisis, according to a statement from the UN, the response to the rise in violence is being hampered by the fact that institutions are already under a huge strain from the demands of dealing with the pandemic.
To meet the challenges locally, while the organization’s walk-in hours and its children’s visitation program, which facilitates supervised visits between children and their non-custodial parents, has been temporarily put on hold, Gordon said NELCWIT’s staff members are working remotely around the clock. The agency’s 24-hour domestic violence and rape crisis hotline is still open seven days a week and can be reached at 413-772-0806 or toll-free at 1-888-249-0806. In emergencies, Gordon said to call 911.
“I really want to emphasize that we are open — we are available,” Gordon said. “Anytime day or night, we’re running full strength. We are here to help people take that next step. We are here and we are operating. Our counseling staff is still available for phone appointments and we’re setting up the capacity for video appointments.”
Escaping a domestic violence situation is more complicated than simply walking away, Gordon said.
“Everyone in an abusive relationship is trying to leave, even if it doesn’t look like that from the outside. They’re doing what they know to take the steps they need to keep themselves and their families safe,” Gordon said. Those in an abusive household face layers of challenges including economic vulnerability and an unstable support system. Because of that, victims should develop a comprehensive escape plan before making a move. A start could be to call advocates at NELCWIT.
“It’s never just one thing. Often, the most dangerous time for a survivor is when they are taking more direct action to get out of an abusive situation,” Gordon said.
Andy Castillo can be reached at acastillo@recorder.com.
24/7 live-chat and text with an advocate from the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 24/7 in English and Spanish thehotline.org or loveisrespect.org. NELCWIT hotline: 413-772-0806 or 888-249-0806: individual counseling available in Spanish as well as English, language line available for crisis calls.