Lehigh Valley shelter ready for domestic violence victims trapped by coronavirus

The coronavirus shutdown in Pennsylvania means people are spending more time with their families in close quarters, a nightmare situation for survivors of domestic violence.

Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley and other victim assistance programs across the state are all seeing a decrease in phone calls right now, Turning Point Executive Director Lori Sywensky said.

Experience in places where COVID-19 hit earlier this year, however, has shown the lack of calls now is the calm before the storm.

Programs in Italy and South Korea, and California and Washington state, saw the same thing, Sywensky said.

“It got very quiet and then the floodgates opened,” she said, either when restrictions were removed, or when situations became so untenable the victim had to leave. “This is brand new territory and nobody has ever dealt with this before."

The concern right from the start has been trauma and violence experienced while being stuck in a house with an abusive partner, Sywensky said.

But programs have heard of abusers using fear of the virus to limit victims’ access to friends and family, or to keep them from leaving the house.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline had a call where a woman reported her husband threatened to throw her out if she coughed, and wouldn’t let her leave the house for fear of bringing COVID-19 into their home, Time magazine reported.

“We need to continue to be here,” Sywensky said.

Domestic violence hotlines are recommending victims concerned about being able to call the police should decide on a code word that can be said or texted to someone, so they can call the authorities on the victims’ behalf.

Emergency protection from abuse orders are handled by police officers and district judges, but temporary and permanent PFAs are handled in county courts.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court, in an order closing state courts, has allowed exceptions including protection from abuse orders. Turning Point counselors are still attending those hearings.

Sywensky said for now, the law was changed to extend the time allowed for emergency PFAs. Temporary PFA’s are being extended, with court dates in April.

Turning Point is still providing shelter services, although new clients are being placed in alternate locations, to protect the health of existing clients.

“We have been lucky we don’t have anybody who has exhibited symptoms or tested positive,” she said.

Turning Point is working with local hotels, Sywensky said, but worry as national chains and local hotels lay off staff that they may close. The shelter is also looking at other safe options, like clients staying with other family members or friends.

It’s not just romantic relationships seeking help.

“We see an awful lot of grandparents with adult children or adult grandchildren living with them,” who are victims of domestic violence, Sywensky said.

A college student in Georgia wrote a guest column for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about her campus closing down and coming home to an abusive parent.

“While social distancing and quarantining are essential steps to mitigate this pandemic, it puts survivors at great risk of abuse simply by isolating many of us with our abusers,” she wrote.

Sywensky said it has been all hands on deck for Turning Point’s staff.

“I have the best staff in the world, everybody has been coming in and trying to figure out ways to best help people," she said.

One staffer in Monroe County was stopped by police on her way into work. After learning she worked for Turning Point, the officer apologized and thanked her for her service, Sywensky said.

“We are all feeling the rallying,” she said.

The rallying is coming from the community as well. Kremer’s Community Kitchen committed to supplying Turning Point meals every day for three weeks.

The nonprofit is still looking for supplies, including individual sanitizers for shelter clients, and individual drinks, like bottled water, soda and iced tea, for the remote clients.

Turning Point accepts monetary donations and also has an Amazon wish list here.

If you need help, Turning Point’s 24/7 Helpline can be reached at 610-437-3369, toll-free at 877-438-4957 and TTY at 610-419-4594.

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Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. If there’s anything about this story that needs attention, please email her. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

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