Loveland Magazine

LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

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Since 2004

Tag: survivors of domestic violence

  • Domestic violence survivors fear for their lives, but still want to vote

    Domestic violence survivors fear for their lives, but still want to vote

    By Susan Tebben

    When trying to get away from a violent abuser and keep food on the table, the next election is usually isn’t a priority.

    For survivors of domestic violence, keeping their identities and locations a secret is vital for their own livelihood. Survivors don’t always think to grab a driver’s license or their latest utility bill when they’re leaving an abusive situation.

    When identification is needed at a polling place and voter registration is public, those who have been abused are hesitant to exercise that particular right.

    When identification is needed at a polling place and voter registration is public, those who have been abused are hesitant to exercise that particular right.

    “This is one of those barriers to voting that most people don’t think about,” said Audrey Starr, of the YWCA Dayton, which runs the only domestic violence shelters in Montgomery and Preble counties.

    Montgomery County ranks third in the state for domestic violence-related law enforcement calls, according to the YWCA. While calls to their 24/7 crisis hotline are down from last year, Starr said the likelihood that callers’ situations end in death or serious injury has tripled.

    The most recent domestic violence report released by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation is from 2018. It showed a total of 65,845 “reported victims” of domestic violence, 20.6% (13,566 people) of those being live-in partners, and 13.23% (8,714) were wives.

    On top of feeling unsafe going to the polls or providing identifying information, some survivors believe elections don’t bring them the change they need.

    “I think many of the people we work with often do not feel that either party has their interests at heart,” said Kelly Cooke

    “I think many of the people we work with often do not feel that either party has their interests at heart,” said Kelly Cooke, executive director of the Southeast Ohio domestic violence agency My Sister’s Place. “They have experienced a great deal of disappointment with our elected officials, who they see as ignoring their needs.”

    Ohio’s domestic violence programs are funded through competitive federal grants and a small portion of county marriage and divorce license fees, according to the Ohio Domestic Violence Network.

    In the last Ohio General Assembly, domestic violence received its first ever line-item in the state budget, for a total of $1 million a year for all state programming.

    In the last Ohio General Assembly, domestic violence received its first ever line-item in the state budget, for a total of $1 million a year for all state programming. Surrounding states have devoted more money to the cause, with West Virginia allocating $2.5 million from the general fund and Indiana providing $5 million. Kentucky gives $6.7 million and Pennsylvania funds the programs with $15.63 million from government funds, according to ODVN data.

    “Our programs have relied on federal grant funding for so long that the Ohio legislature has gotten away with not funding our programs,” said Micaela Deming, policy director and staff attorney for the Ohio Domestic Violence Network.

    Safe At Home program

    One thing the state has joined other states in doing is creating the Safe At Home program, a confidentiality program run through the Secretary of State’s office.

    Through the program, survivors of domestic violence, stalking, human trafficking, rape or sexual battery can get a substitute Post Office box address designated through the Secretary of State’s office to shield an actual residence from public records.

    Private entities aren’t required to accept the substitute address, but state governmental entities should, according to the Secretary of State’s office.

    The state program was created through an Ohio House bill, and a more recent bill wants to expand the legislation. Currently, the Safe at Home program doesn’t address confidentiality needed when a survivor owns or is purchasing a home, or the use of the substitute address in child support or custody proceedings.

    House Bill 429 seeks to address those issues. It was passed in the House in June, and is awaiting consideration by the Senate Local Government, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs Committee.

    Voting safely

    Even with the potential risks, advocates and shelter coordinators say this year has been a little different. More clients and shelter residents have been asking how they can vote.

    The YWCA in Dayton has worked to educate survivors on their rights and the empowerment that can come from voting in a safe way. The Dayton facility works to make transportation available for those that need or want it to get to the polls.

    “We know that when people commit to voting and look at ‘what does that look like for me’ … walking through those steps and writing down the plan makes them much more likely that they’ll go through with it,” Starr said.

    Agencies that break down voting into plans and simple steps just as they do getting employment, education or permanent housing, are able to make the task less overwhelming, Starr said.

    Susan Tebben

    Susan Tebben is an award-winning journalist with a decade of experience covering Ohio news, including courts and crime, Appalachian social issues, government, education, diversity and culture. She has worked for The Newark Advocate, The Glasgow Daily Times, The Athens Messenger, and WOUB Public Media. She has also had work featured on National Public Radio.
  • Brown, colleagues urge administration to help victims and survivors of domestic violence during coronavirus pandemic

    Brown, colleagues urge administration to help victims and survivors of domestic violence during coronavirus pandemic

    Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) joined 23 of his Senate colleagues in writing a letter expressing concern for the wellbeing of families who face an increased risk of domestic violence during the outbreak of the novel coronavirus and urged the administration to ensure service providers have the flexibility and resources to help victims and survivors of domestic violence. 

    Click image or call 1-800-799-7233 1-800-787-3224 (TTY) -En Español

    “We write to express our concern for the wellbeing of families who face an increased risk of domestic violence during the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). We also ask that the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) ensure that the organizations that help victims and survivors of domestic violence have the resources and information needed to continue to provide these critical services during the pandemic. The senators wrote:

    Dear Assistant Secretary Johnson and Acting-Director Rogers:

    We write to express our concern for the wellbeing of families who face an increased risk of domestic violence during the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). We also ask that the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) ensure that the organizations that help victims and survivors of domestic violence have the flexibility, resources, and information needed to continue to provide these critical services during the pandemic.

    In recent weeks, states and cities across the country have taken a variety of steps to mitigate the spread of the virus, including closing schools, limiting access to public spaces and restaurants, and instructing people to shelter in place. Many people are now working from home, while others have been required to take unpaid leave or have lost their jobs.

    An unintended but foreseeable consequence of these drastic measures will be increased stress at home, which in turn creates a greater risk for domestic violence. According to one recent article, emergency situations have “historically led to increased reports of domestic abuse” to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. In addition, domestic violence service providers expect an increase in the need for emergency childcare and domestic violence shelters, as well as for supplies to keep centers and program sites safe and secure.

    Many of these programs are administered by your offices and funded through grants authorized by the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act and the Violence Against Women Act. It is critical that your agencies ensure that victims and survivors of domestic violence continue to have access to these vital services. Accordingly, we request answers to the following questions, as well as a telephonic briefing with members of our staff, regarding actions ACF and OVW are taking no later than March 31, 2020:

    1. Have the domestic violence programs that ACF and OVW administer seen an increase in need over the past 60 days, as a result of the COVID-19 mitigation efforts in place at the local, state, and federal level? If so, please provide detail, to the extent possible, broken down by state or territory.

    2. How have the domestic violence programs administered by your offices been strained as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic?

    3. What steps have ACF and OVW taken to prepare for a potential rise in the need for domestic violence programs or services?

    4. What will ACF and OVW do to provide organizations an opportunity to request additional financial support to respond to an increased demand for services?

    5. What steps has ACF and OVW taken to ensure that survivors continue to have to access to judicial proceedings, including the opportunity to seek a protective order?

    6. What steps will ACF and OVW take to provide greater flexibility for service providers who may be required to alter their programs without risking their eligibility for funding?

    7. If programs have to close or suspend services due to COVID-19, will ACF and OVW offer grantees flexibility to continue to support the programs’ employees?

    8. What information or resources have you made available to domestic violence organizations, particularly with regard to ensuring the safety of front line employees?

    9. Have ACF and OVW provided guidance about how organizations should alter their operations in order to maintain services while providing for the safety of staff, including remote or mobile operations?

    10. What additional guidance or resources are ACF and OVW providing domestic violence organizations that serve American Indians / Alaska Natives, rural, and underserved communities?

    Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We urge you to take immediate action to prepare for a potential increase in incidents of domestic violence and look forward to your prompt response.

    Sincerely,

    Along with Sen. Brown, Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Ed Markey (D-MA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Tina Smith (D-MN), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Mark Warner (D-VA), Jon Tester (D-MT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), joined in signing the letter.

    When survivors are forced to stay in the home or in proximity to their abuser, it can create circumstances where their safety is compromised, and they may need to alter their safety plan.

    For any victims and survivors who need support, we are here for you, 24/7.

    Call 1-800-799-7233 or if you’re unable to speak safely, you can log onto the hotline.org or text LOVEIS to 22522