Sherri Songer is offering support for survivors of domestic abuse
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City officials in Roanoke, Virginia, have seen an increase in domestic violence reports, and a correlation between the incidents and the economy, ABC 13 reports.
A special task force just released numbers for the community and found that domestic aggravated assault was up 108 percent in the first half of this year, and that simple domestic assault was up 84 percent. Many incidents are drug, alcohol and finance-related, the research suggests.
Sherri Songer is a member of the community and also a domestic abuse survivor. She walked through the doors of a women's shelter 16 years ago and has been helping other like her find help through their ordeal.
"I'm a survivor of domestic violence. Kind of gives me a special insight as to what these women feel when they walk through the door," she told the news source.
Songer spoke about how people have become more educated about domestic violence and aren't as scared to report it as they used to be. She also said that the community has increased services for victims, which may be why more people are coming forward.
The Domestic Violence Resource Center (DVRC) reports that one in four women has experienced domestic violence in their lifetime. Women are victims of intimate partner violence incidents 85 percent of the time. They also report that people with incomes below $25,000 per year are three times more likely to be victims of domestic violence.
The DVRC is a resource for both survivors of domestic abuse and their families. The organization provides information on what is considered domestic abuse. They also have community outreach services that train individuals on how to prevent domestic abuse. They also provide counseling and support groups, a 24 hour hotline, and a shelter for victims.
A special task force just released numbers for the community and found that domestic aggravated assault was up 108 percent in the first half of this year, and that simple domestic assault was up 84 percent. Many incidents are drug, alcohol and finance-related, the research suggests.
Sherri Songer is a member of the community and also a domestic abuse survivor. She walked through the doors of a women's shelter 16 years ago and has been helping other like her find help through their ordeal.
"I'm a survivor of domestic violence. Kind of gives me a special insight as to what these women feel when they walk through the door," she told the news source.
Songer spoke about how people have become more educated about domestic violence and aren't as scared to report it as they used to be. She also said that the community has increased services for victims, which may be why more people are coming forward.
The Domestic Violence Resource Center (DVRC) reports that one in four women has experienced domestic violence in their lifetime. Women are victims of intimate partner violence incidents 85 percent of the time. They also report that people with incomes below $25,000 per year are three times more likely to be victims of domestic violence.
The DVRC is a resource for both survivors of domestic abuse and their families. The organization provides information on what is considered domestic abuse. They also have community outreach services that train individuals on how to prevent domestic abuse. They also provide counseling and support groups, a 24 hour hotline, and a shelter for victims.
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