Ten years ago, Freja was in a courtroom fighting for her safety. She was trying to escape domestic violence when an advocate, Jenny Woodson, connected her with a pro bono lawyer to help her with a restraining order.
That was her first introduction to the network of local or Portland metro-area advocates who devote their lives to helping survivors. And she says they stood by her through the ups and downs, nurturing, mentoring her and showing her unconditional kindness.
In December, Freja accepted a job with the Joint Office of Homeless Services after working as an advocate, herself, helping others find critical housing. She attributes her success to the network of people who stood by her as she sought safety and healing.
“The wound is where the light enters you,” Freja said. “Because of my exposure to such skilled, knowledgeable and compassionate advocates, I was able to harness my rage instead of letting it consume me.”
Freja was part of a panel of domestic violence survivors, experts, and advocates who gathered virtually Thursday, Oct. 23 as the Board of County Commissioners recognized October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
The celebration took place just a few weeks after the Gateway Center for Domestic Violence celebrated its 10-year anniversary. Operated by Multnomah County in partnership with the City of Portland, the Center in east Portland serves survivors of domestic and sexual violence through counseling and therapeutic supports, legal services, and temporary financial support. In the last decade,the center has served more than 20,000 adult survivors and at least 10,000 child survivors.
Domestic violence is distressingly common, advocates say. In the United states, one in four women, and one in seven men 18 and older have been the victim of physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. One in 15 children are exposed to domestic violence every year, and between 30 and 60 percent of perpetrators of intimate partner violence also abuse children in the home.
Advocates say that this has been an especially difficult year for people experiencing domestic violence. The physical distancing measures taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have the potential to make bad home situations more difficult to avoid or escape,, they say. And isolation and a lack of privacy makes it harder to get help.
“It has been a particularly difficult year for people experiencing domestic violence,” said Commissioner Susheela Jayapal, who serves at the Co-Chair of the Gateway Council. “Confinement at home with their abusers; isolation, and being cut off from their usual support systems; economic, personal, and social stressors; all these things have exacerbated the incidence and the severity of domestic violence in our community and across the country.”
Despite the widespread effects of the pandemic, the County’s domestic violence programs are continuing to keep critical services open to survivors. Early into the pandemic, providers and their partners pivoted quickly to serve people seeking help. Nearly 140 shelter beds for survivors have been consistently full since the pandemic began.
“We know that domestic violence has increased in both frequency and severity during the pandemic,” said Alix Sanchez, who directs the County’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Coordination Office. “We realized that we needed new resources to provide folks with safe spaces, whether they were fleeing domestic violence or had lost their housing due to a combination of COVID-19, and domestic violence.”
In response, the Board of County Commissioners funded $300,000 worth of hotel vouchers for people needing a safe place to stay. So far, the vouchers have served 300 households for an average stay of a week to 10 days. The domestic violence program has also received $1.4 million in CARES Act funding for rent assistance to help clients take care of basic needs.
“It absolutely makes so much sense given what some of the risk factors are in terms of domestic violence, but when you put together extreme stress and extreme isolation, it is just a crucible for this mix that can lead to increased violence,” Commissioner Sharon Meieran said.
The District Attorney’s Office is among the partners serving domestic violence survivors. The advocates who work within the DA’s Office work with children who have witnessed and experienced domestic violence with juvenile offenders.
Emma Kane, who works in the office, said COVID-19 quarantine and social distancing measures have made it more difficult for survivors to access shelter space, to stay with a friend or family member, and to find safe, long-term housing. But for the first time this year, the office has submitted its first remote protective order with help from Gateway Center, Volunteers of America, and the courts.
“Human connection support and having someone literally by your side or to greet you with open arms is vital,” Kane said. “We have had to find ways to adapt, to bring that warmth and support to our words, gestures and simply our presence.”
Jenny Woodson, the advocate who helped Freja, also spoke on the panel. As Director of Volunteers of America Home Free, Woodson was used to meeting domestic violence survivors where they are at. When COVID-19 hit, Woodson said, VOA also had to adapt to the rapidly changing situation.
Volunteers of America has distributed smart phones with data plans to survivors. The organization has also helped them pay rent. After the virus closed down their offices, advocates helped survivors file restraining orders remotely. They even found a way to allow survivors to speak with a judge online instead of in person.
“We did not miss a day,” Woodson said. “If you take anything away from today, I hope you hear these stories of resilience, of survivors and advocates. . . . and this past year we strengthened partnerships and formed new ones, and we embraced technology that will create greater access for survivors, and once this pandemic is over.”
Looking ahead, Multnomah County and its partners aim to continue preventing and responding to domestic violence while dismantling systemic barriers that result in inequities. The pandemic has pushed the DV system to collaborate and come up with new ways to connect survivors with services.
Chair Deborah Kafoury joined the board in thanking advocates for continuing to prioritize survivors this year, in the most challenging circumstances.
“I just commend each of you today for rising to this tremendous challenge, and to working to ensure that our services continue to reach everyone who needs them, despite all the obstacles,” Chair Kafoury said. “I just want to honor each and every one of you for continuing to show up to work long hours and weekends and to make sure that the services that people need are available.”
