As the world sheltered in place during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Turning Point Domestic Violence Services recognized the calm before the storm.
People were forced to remain in unsafe situations throughout quarantine, and for domestic violence survivors, sheltering in place meant staying in an unsafe home.
Access to housing, stable child care, remote learning, ability to work consistently and manage COVID for themselves and loved ones significantly increased barriers for leaving.
“The pandemic made leaving an abusive and unsafe situation even more challenging,” Carrie Kruse, vice president of direct services for Turning Point, said in a news release.
“Survivors are always balancing their safety, trying to choose the safest and most stable option for themselves and often their children,” she said. “Staying with an abusive partner was the safest or only option for most survivors. We are now seeing the fallout from that through a significant increase in physical violence and lethality. Survivors need support now more than ever.”
Turning Point has ramped up its work with the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence and other partners to ensure all needs are met as the agency continues to work at maximum capacity and has officially begun diversion of services.
Over the last nine months, Turning Point has seen the need for domestic violence intervention and residential services grow.
Not only has the need surmounted the agency’s capacity to house individuals at the emergency residential shelter in Columbus and scattered housing locations, but with the surge in need also has come an increase in lethality, further complicating the cases being served.
The Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence is positioned to assist Turning Point navigate the complexity of providing crucial services while the shelter and scattered site housing options are at capacity.
“The increase in severity of violence and homicide is not unique to Bartholomew County,” said Laura Berry, executive director of the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence. “Indiana has seen a 181% increase in lethality, thus creating an urgent need for domestic violence programs to provide life-saving resources and support to domestic violence survivors.”
In keeping with the agency’s mission, Turning Point will continue to identify and work toward reasonable solutions as the demand for services continues to grow. It is of the utmost importance that the agency continues to provide support and resources as domestic violence survivors seek safety.
Turning Point’s mission is to work toward the prevention and the elimination of domestic and dating violence. The agency serves Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Johnson and Shelby counties.
For information, visit turningpointdv.org.