Domestic violence shelters see uptick in calls and need for services

Young woman feeling hopeless and depressed at home — Source: milorad kravic / Getty

INDIANAPOLIS — Domestic violence cases are on the rise in Marion and Johnson counties. Many shelters housing victims are also constantly full, but advocates want victims to know there are still resources to help and ways out.

“The biggest thing we’re seeing in domestic violence is it is a problem that not one organization can solve. It is a problem that keeps increasing, and we need the entire community to support those survivors and those who are in those types of relationships,” said Coburn Place Director of Mission Impact Tracy Clark.

Clark is a survivor of domestic violence herself. Now, she helps lead Coburn Place, a place where she once was housed.

She said the shelter gets 10 to 20 calls a day.

“One thing that is great, an organization that we work with, what is called Indy Champs. We work very closely with them, and what they are is they’re an organization that works with all of the domestic violence shelters and organizations in the area. So that is the first line of defense for survivors of domestic violence and those going through that,” said Clark.

If a shelter is full, there are crisis lines to help victims complete a safety plan and go over their rights as they navigate finding a safe shelter.

“As soon as you start to see those signs of control, of verbal abuse, of sexual abuse, all those different things, you want to start to come up with a plan of how you’re going to be able to exit that relationship. When it comes to executing the plan, know that you may have a plan, but also go ahead and be tied to your intuition, because I had a plan. But the moment that I left, I was not ready, but something told me that if I did not leave right now, I don’t know what will happen next,” said Clark.