Charity Sunday: National Domestic Violence Hotline

Charity Sunday is a monthly blog hop founded by author Lisabet Sarai at her blog, Beyond Romance. The idea is to support a charity, or non-profit. For each comment other than mine on this post, over the next 30 days, I will donate $2 per comment (excluding my own) for a total of $30 to a national organization, the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

Unfortunately, here in the US, and presumably elsewhere in the world, the need to stay at home during the COVID-19 pandemic has meant an increase in domestic violence. Domestic violence is a problem even at the best of times, and these are not good times.

From the Hotline's website, some ways that COVID-19 can have a negative impact on intimate relationships:

• Abusive partners may withhold necessary items, such as hand sanitizer or disinfectants.
• Abusive partners may share misinformation about the pandemic to control or frighten survivors, or to prevent them from seeking appropriate medical attention if they have symptoms.
• Abusive partners may withhold insurance cards, threaten to cancel insurance, or prevent survivors from seeking medical attention if they need it.
• Programs that serve survivors may be significantly impacted –- shelters may be full or may even stop intakes altogether. Survivors may also fear entering shelter because of being in close quarters with groups of people.
• Survivors who are older or have chronic heart or lung conditions may be at increased risk in public places where they would typically get support, like shelters, counseling centers, or courthouses.
• Travel restrictions may impact a survivor’s escape or safety plan – it may not be safe for them to use public transportation or to fly.
• An abusive partner may feel more justified and escalate their isolation tactics.

One thing I like about the Hotline's website right off the bat, is its recognition of the inherent danger in someone accessing their site and they offer different ways that someone doing so can protect themselves.

If you, or someone you know, are in dangerous relationship or home situation, or just suspect that is the case, please reach out for help. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is an option whether or not you have a local organization. My wish is for everyone to be safe, physically and emotionally.

https://www.thehotline.org/

1-800-799-7233/1-800-787-3224 (TTY)/En Español