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In honor of Domestic Violence
Awareness Month, there will be weekly editions of Avalon's
"Quick News to Use" e-newsletter.
In Week 4, let's examine the broader
impact of domestic violence. Abuse in one
home extends into the entire community. Domestic
violence adds to the growing epidemics of
homelessness and the lack of affordable
housing. It puts additional strain on already
over-taxed welfare and healthcare systems. And if
it's affecting our community, we must admit that
there is a level of accountability for all of us within that
community.
If you missed previous editions
of Avalon's "Quick News to Use" e-newsletters, be sure
to visit our website or follow the link to...
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In a national survey of
homeless people, domestic violence was the second most
frequently stated cause of homelessness for families. How are
the two related?
Victim+Isolation+Economic Abuse+Little Support
System+Quick Departure From Abuser+Lack of Steady Income+Poor
Credit History+Un/Underemployed
=
Did you know that in one 24-hour
period, over 22,000 victims--12,000 children and
10,000 adults--received services from domestic violence
programs? Sadly, an estimated 1,740 could not be provided with
shelter. What was the alternative for many of them? To stay
with the abuser.
Emergency shelters are an
important temporary haven for victims. The number of
days a victim can stay, however, is limited.
Ultimately, women need safe, stable, permanent and
affordable housing of their own.
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as many as
30% of women on welfare report DV in a
current relationship
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50%-60%
of women receiving welfare have been victims of abuse as
compared to 22% of women in the general
population
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in addition to domestic
violence, welfare recipients face additional barriers to
meaningful, competitive jobs-mental & physical health
problems, lack of child care, housing instability and lack
of transportation
- domestic violence
results in more emergency room visits, inpatient
hospitalizations, and greater use of physician
services
- the average combined
costs of medical treatment is $483 per
incident
- victims of sexual
assault are 3 times more likely to suffer
from depression & 4 times more likely
to be suicidal
- 8% of
the female population are subjected to physical abuse
during pregnancy
- children born to abused
mothers are 30% more likely than other
children to require intensive care upon birth and
17% more likely to be born
underweight
- physical & sexual
violence increases a woman's risk of HIV & STD
transmission
- female teens who are sexually
abused are 3 times more likely to have an
unplanned pregnancy
You can
start making changes that will impact the entire community!
Each one of us is held accountable for the quality of life
around us.
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Help is Available
Locally
Avalon's 24-hour Helpline (757)
258-5051
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October 23, 2007
* 11:30 am
 James T. Reese, "an internationally recognized author,
lecturer, and consultant in the areas of stress management
training, motivation, threat and risk assessments, and
workplace violence" will be speaking at a special engagement
hosted by the Historic Triangle Business
Professional Women. Tickets
are $30/pp in advance, $45/pp at the door. For more information or to RSVP
contact Gayle at
757-870-1913. | |
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Avalon Administrative
Office
P.O. Box 1079
Williamsburg, VA
23187
(757)
258-5022 | |
Avalon Outreach
Office
312 Waller Mill Road, Suite 300
Williamsburg, VA 23185
(757)
258-9362 | | |
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