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Domestic Violence Month amid pandemic

Beth Casady, executive director, Marquette Women's Center

Every year, the month of October is devoted to Domestic Violence Awareness. This year is especially important because of the current pandemic and the crisis it has created. It has had a severe impact on victims, survivors, and the advocates that serve them in our communities.

Many victims faced the challenge of being trapped in their homes during lockdown with an abusive partner they could not escape. Violence escalated for many in their homes. Victims who may have lost their jobs or saw their work hours reduced are forced to financially rely on an abusive partner more than they would have previously.

At the same time, the services at the Women’s Center do not stop. We are essential workers. We have kept our emergency shelter open, although we have had to significantly reduce the number of survivors and their children we can safely shelter. Fortunately, we have not had to turn anyone away, but our shelter has been full since lockdown ended.

We maintained all other services and our 24/7 support line; we were also forced to reinvent how we deliver our services. Our in-person services for our clients not in the shelter turned towards “mobile advocacy” so that we can continue to serve the people who rely on us.

Hundreds of people in Alger and Marquette County depend on the services we provide for safety planning, advocacy, housing resources, referrals, legal resources, food and supplies, and counseling. Our staff has been resilient and flexible and has faced the crisis with much courage.

However, it is time we treat domestic violence as a public health crisis, much like COVID-19. What if we developed models to “flatten the curve” of domestic violence by addressing the needs of programs? We have plans for “emergency responses,” but if we want to eliminate domestic violence in our society, we need to have long-term, systemic and capacity building discussions. We need to address root causes such as patriarchy, privilege, and oppression. We need to talk about how we can respond better to the violence and address prevention, much like a vaccine for COVID-19.

The domestic violence advocacy moment in our country has come a long way since its inception in the early 1970s. But the bandages we have put on the issue have not seemed to stop the bleeding. Much like the viral infection that rages silently among us, domestic violence is also a silent and deadly killer.

Locally, the numbers of people reaching out for our services increases each year. Last year we provided services to 370 women, 13 men, and 81 children. Crisis calls to our support line were over 2,400. It is only the tip of the iceberg when we know that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men experience sexual violence, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime.

As we go into DVAM this year, our events to promote awareness look very different. They are virtual and symbolic, (check out our Facebook page or website www.wcmqt.org for information). We ask that you remember all those who have lost their lives, their homes, their livelihoods to this violence and consider donating to the Women’s Center for support to survivors in our local region.

Now, more than ever, we need your support during the pandemic for us to continue these vital free and confidential services.

Editor’s note: Beth Casady is executive director of The Women’s Center in Marquette.

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