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thehotline.org n 1.800.799.7233
COVID-19 SPECIAL REPORT
On March 16, 2020, the National Domestic Violence Hotline (The Hotline) began collecting data to track how COVID-19 impacts victims and survivors of domestic violence. We know any external factors that add stress, isolation, and financial strain can create circumstances where a survivor’s safety is further compromised—this pandemic has elements of all three. Even more concerning, shelter-in-place orders meant that many would be in closer and more frequent proximity to their abusers. This report is reflective of data collected March 16 to May 16, 2020. thehotline.org n 1.800.799.7233
8%
4%
9%
5% 3% 2% CONTACT
+9%
6,210 TOTAL CONTACTS ANSWERED
CITING COVID-19
TOTAL CONTACTS ANSWERED
Phone 35,937 Chat 24,145 Text 2,331
Total 62,413
WHAT CONTACTS ARE EXPERIENCING
78%
ƒ Healthy relationship inquiry: A contact discussing intimate partner relationships who is not experiencing a pattern of abusive behaviors.
ƒ Victim/survivor non-IPV: A contact who has experienced abuse from anyone other than an intimate partner (i.e. parent, sibling, caretaker), and is looking for information, resources, or support regarding the abuse.
ƒ Other: A contact who is not currently experiencing violence and has needs outside the scope of healthy relationships or intimate partner violence services.
ƒ Abusive partner: A contact who engages in a pattern of behavior to establish power and control over an intimate partner.
*Excludes hang-ups, prank calls and wrong numbers. Contacts may report one or more types of abuse.
“A chatter stated that they have known for a long time that there were red flags in the relationship, but things are escalating with the pandemic, and they can’t even go to therapy.”
“A chatter mentioned that the abuser was using the virus as a scare tactic to keep the survivor away from their kids.”
KEY PARTNERS IN COVID-19 EFFORTS
The Hotline was one of the first national organizations to deploy a COVID-19 rapid response fundraising campaign. More than $1.4 million has been raised to date from thousands of individuals, corporations, and foundations. The Hotline also received $2 million through the CARES Act.
Our thanks to the Allstate Foundation for funding the initial technology we needed to move our Advocate team to remote work. We would also like to thank Verizon, Bumble, TJX, the New York Life Foundation, and Centene for their support of our COVID-19 response efforts. This amazing generosity makes our mission possible, especially during this critical time.
On behalf of the Board and Staff of The Hotline — THANK YOU!
90%
EMOTIONAL/ VERBAL ABUSE
61%
PHYSICAL ABUSE
24%
ECONOMIC/ FINANCIAL ABUSE
16%
DIGITAL ABUSE
11%
SEXUAL ABUSE
Behavior that isn’t physical, which may include verbal aggression, intimidation, manipulation, and humiliation, which most often unfolds as a pattern of behavior over time.
Non-accidental use of force that results in bodily injury, pain, or impairment. This may include being slapped, burned, cut, bruised, or improperly physically restrained.
When one intimate partner has control over the other partner’s access to economic resources, which diminishes the victim’s capacity to support themselves.
The use of technologies such as texting and social networking to bully, harass, stalk, or intimidate a partner.
Non-consensual sexual interaction through coercion, guilt, or force. This may include pressure to engage in sexual activity, refusal to use contraception, or demanding of sexual images or video.
“A caller said they could not file paperwork to remove the abuser from their home, because courts are closed due to COVID-19.”
“A caller was experiencing an escalation of abuse. They had tested positive for COVID-19, and the abuser was using isolation to keep them from contacting family. The abuser threatened the survivor with deportation (survivor is currently in the process of
becoming a US citizen).”
OUR RESPONSE TO COVID-19
The Hotline’s entire team, more than 165 people, are now working remotely so that we can continue to provide critical, life-saving services 24/7. Our top priority remains keeping staff safe while continuing to serve survivors.
One of the most important services we offer is personalized safety planning — this is especially critical, as survivors navigated shelter-in-place and reduced local domestic violence support services because of social distancing.
We knew that survivors would feel less safe reaching out for support because of being in such close proximity
to the abusive partner. March 2020 contact volume decreased by 6% (as compared to March 2019). As shelter-in-place began to lift, contact volume increased by 15% in April (as compared to April 2019). The Hotline anticipates sustained increases in contact volume during the remainder of 2020 and beyond due to the long-term effects of COVID-19.
INCREASE IN TOTAL CONTACTS RECEIVED
FEMALE
7%
7%
22%
UNDER 18 34-45
64 & OVER
15%
10%
5%
17%
27%
19-24 25-33 46-51 52-63 UNKNOWN
6%
6%
8%
13%
VICTIM/ SURVIVOR IPV
HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS
OFF TARGET
BLACK/AFRICAN LATINO/ AMERICAN HISPANIC
BI/ OTHER RACE MULTIRACIAL
16%
44%
WHITE/ CAUCASIAN
UNKNOWN
COVID-19 SURVIVOR STORIES FROM THE LINES
CONTACT AGE
1%
CONTACT GENDER IDENTITY
MALE UNKNOWN OTHER
10% 15% CONTACT
ETHNICITY
TYPE* 58%
HELPER VICTIM/SURVIVOR NON-IPV
OTHER/ ADMIN NON-DV
ABUSIVE PARTNER
5%
CONTACT TYPE DEFINITIONS
ƒ
Victim/survivor intimate partner violence (IPV): A contact who has experienced abuse by an intimate partner and is looking for information, resources, emotional
or other support regarding the abusive relationship.







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