By Kaylie Horrer
Staff Writer
SPRINGFIELD – Half of homeless women and children are on the streets because of domestic violence.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It is a month devoted to spotlighting this form of abuse, which tends to increase in violence over time.
Domestic abuse has different forms.
“The first form is physical, pulling hair, pulling clothes, choking and scratching. Emotional, verbal, yelling, screaming, blaming, stalking and threatening,” said Tameka Crawford, a National Domestic Violence Hotline worker.
“Sexual abuse, another type,” Crawford said. “Financial abuse, when abusive partner will tell you what you can and cannot buy, likes to give partner an allowance.”
Crawford said, “Another one that is really important is digital, and the last one is stalking.”
Women are the main targets when it comes to domestic violence, but men also get abused.
“The only thing I know about domestic violence is both men and women can be victims.” said Jordyn Lahey, a freshman at Lincoln Land.
In 2003, men made up 15 percent of partners who have been abused. Men who get abused stay silent about this because they are afraid that nobody will believe them or take them seriously.
“I do know someone who has been abused, and I would help them by calling the hotline number.” Lahey said.
There are three national hotline numbers available. The first focuses on domestic abuse (1-800-799-7233). The second focuses on sexual assault (1-800-656-4673). The last one is for teen dating abuse (1-866-331-9474).
There is also a website that you can go to if you need any help; www.thehotline.org.
Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner.
“I do not know anyone who have been abused, but if I did, I would help them by telling a responsible person what’s going on,” said Dylan Clark, freshman at Lincoln Land.
Illinois has 91 organizations in 45 cities to aid victims of domestic abuse.
In Springfield, there is also a shelter: The Sojourn Shelter and Services Inc. at 1800 Westchester Blvd. Sojourn can be reached at 217-726-5200.
All the services at Sojourn are free and confidential. The services they have are shelter services, children’s program, court advocacy, SAFER Program, non-residential services, prevention and education program and a volunteer program.
Kaylie Horrer can be reached at [email protected].