Shadow Pandemic Having independence plays a role in assisting domestic abuse victims get help. As quarantine continues, Covid is taking other tolls. By Rebecca Michaeli Trigger warning: domestic abuse
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n alarming secondary crisis lurks behind the COVID-19 pandemic most of us are familiar with. The so-called “shadow pandemic” refers to the increase in domestic abuse cases. The shadow pandemic, though not as prominent in the public consciousness as COVID-19, is also a dangerous public health crisis. “An increase in [domestic abuse] cases was of the biggest fears we had because we knew as things started to shut down, survivors were going to be in very dangerous positions, and situations they weren’t accustomed to,” Lindsay Pingel, Director of Community Engagement at the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV), said. Last year alone, the ICADV served over 40,000 people across the state of Iowa. Though cases of domestic violence continue to rise as the pandemic persists, the numbers didn’t spike immediately. When shelter in place orders were first established, the surge of domestic abuse cases slowed. When people are forced to shelter with their abuser, it’s often hard to find safety to reach out for help. “The tricky part to under-
stand is that when we went into lockdown, it got quiet. There were not as many people calling the hotline because not many people were able to. When you’re sheltering with your abuser, there’s no room to make a safe phone call or reach out,” Alta Medea-Peters, who works in the community engagement department of the Domestic Violence Intervention Program, said. The Domestic Violence Intervention Program is a nonprofit organization that serves victims of domestic violence and intimate partner violence. DVIP serves men, women, and children in eight counties throughout Southeast Iowa. They help victims of domestic abuse find the safety and resources they need. Since the state of Iowa began to lift restrictions, DVIP has seen a 28% increase in hotline calls. “It wasn’t surprising that we weren’t getting as many calls during that period of time, everything was shut down. People have to be strategic,” Delaney Dixon, Assistant Executive Director of DVIP, said. “Statistically you’re in more danger when you’re trying to leave a harmful situation. People have to think ‘is this the right time for me?’ it’s not just ‘okay, I’m gonna go.’ They have to find that opportunity, because the reality is, they
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may only get one shot.” According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline’s COVID-19 report, there have been over 6,000 contacts made to the domestic abuse hotlines, referencing COVID-19. “Our services are free and confidential. We do not charge. We are completely inclusive, safety and sobriety do not go hand in hand. Everything we do is 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If it’s easier to make a call to us at three in the morning, we will answer just like we would at three in the afternoon,” Medea Peters said. “If you are unsure [about reaching out] or do not want people to find out, you can call the hotline number and get advice and safety planning, and talk with an advocate about your situation or a friend’s situation. You don’t have to be the primary victim to call.” Many forget how important independence is with survivors of domestic abuse. With jobs being shut down, and employees fired, it limits the available resources. For many people, going to work every day is taken for granted, while for those trapped
in abusive circumstances, a job can represent temporary safety and freedom. Without financial independence, public interaction, and populated areas, survivors are left without any safe spaces, though they may only be momentary. “Somebody may have left their abuser, and they were taking care of themselves [and] their child, but then they lost their job. That is the perfect opportunity for an abuser to swoop in and say ‘I will take care of it’. A victim may not have a choice, because they can’t support themselves financially,” Dixon said. On average, more than one in three women and one in four men in the United States will experience rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. “Everyday matters in terms of being able to financially support yourself. Abusers use money to keep their victims saddled to them. If you don’t have a job, you can’t get an apartment. If you don’t have a car, you can’t get a job. If you get fired, you’re 10.23.20
