Collier County domestic violence shelter continues to work to protect victims during pandemic

NBC-2.com WBBH News for Fort Myers, Cape Coral & Naples, Florida

Monday, March 30th 2020, 4:48 PM EDT by Jennifer Kveglis

Updated: Monday, March 30th 2020, 6:48 PM EDT

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. – The coronavirus pandemic is forcing many people to stay home, and just last weekend in Collier County calls for domestic violence jumped 30 percent.

Since then, calls for domestic violence have leveled out, but the work to keep victims safe will continue.

“It’s really all about victim safety and abuser accountability,” said Linda Oberhaus, CEO of the Shelter For Abused Women and Children.

That is the goal year-round for the shelter and the Collier County Sheriff’s Office’s Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART).

“There are over 1600 calls to 911 as a result of domestic violence. What is important when you hear that number is that most victims don’t call the police for help. These are only the most severe cases,” reported the shelter in 2018.

As workplaces close due to coronavirus, more people are staying home. Oberhaus said what can happen next, behind closed doors, is why the non-profit wants to make their presence known.

“It is alarming that we’ve seen a 30 percent increase in Collier County calls to 911. It’s not consistent with the number of calls that we have seen to our hotline. Which would say that victims may not realize that we are still open and available to serve them,” said Oberhaus.

If you are a victim seeking shelter or assistance please call their 24/7 crisis hotline at 239-775-1101.

The Shelter for Abused Women and Children is hosting a virtual grand opening for their second shelter on April 9. It is at an undisclosed location in Immokalee where the sheriff’s office receives the most domestic violence calls in the county.