Home.
A place where you find comfort and love.
A place to make you feel safe.
A place to find privacy.
A place where you belong.
A place to seek refuge from the outside world.
Not all apartments, houses or dwellings are homes.
And not all houses are a home.
For some, the outside world is safer than the walls that surround them.
ABUSE, NEGLECT, and ADDICTION ignore residential boundary lines.
ABUSE, NEGLECT, and ADDICTION ignore the rules.
Recently, I saw a post on the Nextdoor app shaming people for not, in their opinion, obeying the self-isolating rules put into place by our government. To my surprise, I witnessed several other “neighbors” jumping on the shaming bandwagon. In the meantime, I had a different response to that post.
While most of us are worried about the health concerns of the outside world, I’m terrified of some people’s inside world.
Just because a house looks “nice” doesn’t mean it’s a home.
There was a time in my life I would rather be anywhere else than my home. And thankfully, during this pandemic, my life is very different. But, my heart aches for these victims. As we focus on battling a virus, I can’t help but wonder what are we doing for the women and children living under these conditions?
France has implemented a safe word program for victims of abuse. Victims of abuse can discreetly reveal their circumstances to pharmacies and grocery stores employees, to get help.
Hotels and other businesses are offering safe spaces to these victims.
I had to know what is Bakersfield, California doing to help victims of abuse.
After speaking with the Bakersfield City Police and The Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault, here’s what I know:
During this isolation, Bakersfield Police have NOT seen an increase in service calls; in fact, the number of calls has decreased.
While officers continue to serve our community, officers cannot be everywhere and see everything. It’s the responsibility of our “village” to keep a watchful eye for any signs of abuse or neglect and report it to authorities.
However, a local therapist who wishes to remain anonymous said her practice, along with her colleagues, are seeing an uptick in abuse, both domestic and child abuse, calls into their practice.
A recent conference call with her colleagues reveled some of the growing challenges facing service providers, including how to get help to a victim while under orders to self-isolate. These extraordinary circumstances allow the abuser more control over the victim. Leaving the victim, with even fewer options to leave a situation safely. Another obstacle is the ability to counsel these victims privately. While telemedicine and various forms of virtual therapy are available often, the victim is unable to find time and space away from their abuser to speak freely.
The Alliance Against Family Violence remains open to provide resources to victims. During this time, and understandably, procedural changes have been implemented, but ASSISTANCE is still available. The center offers counseling services, information, and referrals.
In an emergency call or text 911. If you’d like to report abuse or a crime anonymously go to https://www.p3tips.com
If you live in Kern County and need help or know someone that does, call the 24-hour crisis hotline 661-327-1091, the national hotline number is 800-273-7713.
