Local authorities are concerned that domestic violence may be occurring more frequently while people are quarantined at home and leaving victims few avenues to get help.
Owensboro Area Shelter and Information Services, a domestic violence program for battered women and their dependent children, saw a 34 percent decrease in services from January through April compared to last year.
Shelter intake at OASIS is also at a historic low with 39 people presently occupying the 65 beds. The shelter averages between 60 to 65 people and is consistently over capacity, said Andrea Robinson, executive director at OASIS.
“It’s because people are afraid to come into the shelter because of COVID-19,” Robinson said.
Victims would rather risk it at home than be in a communal living space where they and their children are at higher risk of getting the coronavirus despite safety measures, she said.
“They can’t reach out for services because they’re stuck at home with their batterer, so they don’t have those opportunities to be able to reach out to ask for assistance and help,” Robinson said.
Domestic violence victims are facing new hurdles under COVID-19 such as movement restrictions on top of the already existing barriers, Robinson said.
TK Logan, a professor at the University of Kentucky, Department of Behavioral Science, Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, echoed the same message.
“The shelters are open but many women aren’t going to go there (because) you’re probably even more scared to take your kids there when you’re afraid of COVID-19,” Logan said.
There’s a number of reasons why domestic violence has increased under COVID-19, and Logan said one in particular is technology-facilitated abuse and control. Logan said there’s a lack of privacy in the home, making it difficult to reach out to any kind of services.
“He’s monitoring every account, interaction, and now because we’re at home, the online communication has become even more important,” Logan said.
Owensboro Police Department documented 117 domestic violence reports from December through April. This is comparable to the same months the previous year, which saw 119 cases.
“It’s a very hard situation, but letting her know that the emergency rooms are open, police are responding, those services are there, and the shelters are working (will help),” Logan said.
Logan said the National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-SAFE is open and ready to help survivors during the COVID-19 outbreak. There is also a messaging chat option for survivors to utilize. Call 270-685-0260 for services at Owensboro OASIS.
COVID-19 also forced officials at OASIS to tighten rules for safety measures. Residents are required to shelter in place — only leaving for work, to appear in court or for a doctor’s appointment.
With the court system shut down to in-person appearance and some people laid off, Robinson said, there was nowhere for people to go.
“We’re dealing with a public health crisis,” she said. “So we have to keep everybody safe.”
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For the latest information and data on COVID-19 in Kentucky visit kycovid19.ky.gov or dial the Kentucky state hotline at 800-722-5725.
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