We see and hear the news daily. Economic problems are foremost in everyone’s minds. Although this crisis affects us all, it does not do so equally. More and more evidence suggests that intimate partner violence increases in times of economic hardship.
So how does the condition of the economy exacerbate the plight of women and children living with domestic violence? Consider the shooting that occurred in California a few months ago. A husband and wife lose their job and in despair, the husband shoots his wife, his five children and then himself. Locally, some victims tell us that their careful plans to leave an abusive relationship have to be put “on hold;” they or their partner lost their job and the sad and dangerous reality is that they have to stay for financial reasons.
The National Network to End Domestic Violence explains it like this: “These increases (in violence) are consistent with what we know about abusers - that they use coercive controls including violence to establish dominance and maintain control, and that when their sense of control is shaken, such as by losing their economic control over victims, they lash out in other ways. Assaults may also be triggered by disputes over money, or by abusers simply being home more often because they are unemployed. In short, even with the hard economic times that the state budget is facing, it is now more than ever that domestic violence programs need additional funding to meet the increased demand for their services.”
Evidence points to a dramatic increase in requests for hotline and shelter throughout Pennsylvania. The number of families we are asked to serve here in Berks County continues to grow.
We are committed to providing services to all who need them and we will only succeed in doing so with the continued help and support of the community. We are truly blessed that your support has not wavered even as you y
ourselves experience the hardships these times have caused.
Our staff, Board and volunteers sincerely thank you for your generosity.
