Macon Magazine

VIOLENCE DURING A PANDEMIC SINCE THE ONSET of the COVID-19 pandemic, Crisis Line & Safe House Executive Director Dee Simms affirms that its domestic violence numbers have "gone through the roof." "At one point, the shelter program was operating at 181 percent of its normal capacity. The dire need for refuge since March has far exceeded the capacity of the Safe House, a modest three-bedroom, two-bath home," she said. The solution? Local hotels are housing the overflow, made possible through emergency grants: three from the Central Georgia COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund, a joint venture of Central Georgia's United Way and Community Foundation, and one each from the Victims of Crime Act and Family Violence Prevention Services Act. "Our number one priority is to keep the staff and clients safe. We're not seeing different types of cases, just many more of them," said Simms. "Stress levels are elevated by job loss, severely constrained movement and socialization, and children who can't attend school. Couples have little or no space or time to themselves, and individuals who respond violently to stress are responding violently. Relationships that are on the edge have ended. Domestic violence always spikes when a disaster occurs, but our numbers have been elevated longer because of the duration of the pandemic." Unlike a natural disaster, which strikes and ends relatively quickly, the COVID-19 pandemic has already spanned months with no end in sight. Simms lamented, "There's no getting away from a turbulent partner, and women who are desperate to escape, simply can't." Initially, due to the unprecedented isolation caused by the pandemic, there was a lull in sexual assault numbers, but as society has reopened, those numbers have returned to normal. HELP IS AVAILABLE IF YOU ARE TRAPPED IN AN UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIP, we hope you will be inspired to seek the support and services that Crisis Line's skilled, caring professional staff offers. The same is true if you know someone – a family member, friend, co-worker or acquaintance – who may need intervention. Every call and case is strictly confidential and services are individualized to meet each person's situation and needs. Help is readily available, through the Crisis Line & Safe House Hotline at 478-745-9292 (24 hours a day/7 days a week/365 days a year) and the National Domestic Abuse Hotline at 800-799-7233. for utilities along with bus passes to transport her to and from work — a nearly two-hour commute each way. To her surprise, when an anonymous person donated a vehicle for a shelter resident, she was the staff 's unanimous choice. ADVOCATES AND LEGAL SERVICES Full-time and part-time advocates anchor the agency's program areas (legal, sexual assault, rural outreach, child and victim), guiding clients through the aftermath of an attack — providing emotional support, schooling them on local resources and options, including legal recourse (if needed or desired), and accompanying them to panic-inducing court appearances and/or interviews with law enforcement. Simms explained a common misconception about domestic violence. "When people picture violent relationships, they think of women who are knocked around, sustaining bruises and broken bones. However, in some cases, a woman was hit only once, or long ago, but the dynamic was established," Simms said. "A glaring abuser sparks fear and she becomes the equivalent of a child minding an authoritarian parent. ere's no equality or freedom in the relationship. She does exactly what he wants her to do, or she pays dearly." CL-SH employs two attorneys funded through VOCA (Victims of Crime Act) and FVPSA (Family Violence Prevention Services Act) grants. Although most domestic violence cases never go to trial, Simms said when victims decide to end an abusive marriage or relationship the outcomes are better when the victim is represented by an attorney. Research also shows that victims are in the greatest danger when poised to leave. "If a court appearance is necessary, a staff attorney makes the case to the judge why the client needs the divorce and the children need protection, and can secure child support, set up visitation, which might require supervision, and plan for a safe exchange with the spouse or partner," Simms said. Tomieka Daniel, managing attorney for Georgia Legal Services' Macon regional office, is a longtime CL-SH partner. "CL-SH refers clients to us for many problems, including public benefits and cases involving unemployment, education, housing and, of course, domestic violence. I'm proud of the holistic approach that both of our organizations subscribe to, and jointly, we conduct training for law enforcement and service agencies," Daniel said. SEXUAL ASSAULT CENTERS With only a handful of sexual assault centers statewide, CL-SH saw a dire need in Middle Georgia. In addition to the one planned for Macon, CL-SH was asked to open a second center in Warner Robins after the closure of the Houston Drug Action Council, which served Houston, Peach and Crawford counties. Both centers conduct examinations and collect evidence for rape kits to ensure that victims receive treated for their injuries and evidence is DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 | maconmagazine.com 35

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