For many of us during this past year, our home has become our safe place and our refuge. It has become the primary center of our entertainment, where we play games, spend more time cooking, and where we use the term ‘zoom’ as a verb for work and visiting with friends. In all, for many of us, our homes have become our sanctuary.
But what if home isn’t safe? Imagine for a minute, that during this past year your home was a dangerous place. That you and your children were trapped between four walls, 24-hours a day, with the person who emotionally, verbally and physically abused you. You were trapped with no place to go, and few opportunities to call out for help. Your home literally became a prison. This continues to be the reality of domestic violence and why Rose Brooks creatively addressed the needs of survivors and continues to be here for every domestic violence survivor that needs our help.
In Their Words
“I was too embarrassed to tell my friends what was happening. My home had become a nightmare and I couldn’t believe it was happening to me.”
“I came to Rose Brooks with nothing, but had everything I needed to live another day. . .my safety.”
“My first impression of Rose Brooks was that I was safe. Nobody was going to hurt me. I was going to be able to sleep. And I was going to be able to heal.”
Tips To Help Victims
- Maintain your support networks, even from afar. Create (or keep) scheduled check-ins with friends and family.
- Get creative about checking in. Schedule face-to-face drive-way gatherings, virtual game nights, or use technology like Zoom or Facetime.
- Send supportive text messages: “I’m thinking about you.” “I’m here for you no matter what.”
- If it is safe, talk to them about available resources in the community. Resources like Rose Brooks Center’s 24-hour crisis hotline.
Rose Brooks is Here
If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, please call our 24-hour crisis hotline, 816-861-6100. We can provide crisis intervention, safety planning, connection to domestic violence resources, and assistance in English and Spanish with access to additional language services through an interpreter. You are not alone.