GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Domestic violence calls are on the rise here in Northeast Wisconsin this year.
Experts share the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic could be a reason.
Golden House in Green Bay has seen the stress continue to affect many.
“For almost three years people were stuck at home, individuals lost jobs, the kids were home so the financial stress, the emotional stress,” says Golden House Executive Director, Cheeia Lo.
Golden House received 11,954 domestic violence calls in 2022.
So far in 2023, the organization has received 3,415 calls.
Lo says because the organization is averaging around 1,000 calls per month, she expects 2023’s numbers will be higher.
“It’s always a different situation, and as I often share with people, domestic violence does not discriminate, so domestic violence can happen to anybody,” says Lo.
Harbor House in Appleton is a similar organization to Golden House in Green Bay, staff members here say they also believe more clients will be served this year than last.
“We have seen about 9,000 total clients come in which is about 20 percent higher than this time last year,” says CEO of Harbor House Kristina Kishbaugh.
Kishbaugh says another reason for the increase in calls could be people feeling more comfortable asking for help.
“Most people would say there is an increase in talking about this, so as we talk about it more, it helps people feel safety in that conversation to come forward,” says Kishbaugh.
Lo says she has also seen more men reaching out.
“In the last two years, we have seen almost double the amount of men seeking shelter here at Golden House,” says Lo.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Director of Services of Harbor House Christy Coenen says there are a lot of similarities in supporting victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
“When you are talking power and control there is a lot that looks very similar in that wheel of sexual violence and domestic violence,” says Coenen.
Harbor House is having an event to honor the voices of sexual violence survivors at Pierce Park on Thursday night from 5-7 p.m.
To contact each shelter for 24 hour support, you can call the phone numbers below:
- Harbor House: (920) 832-1667
- Golden House (920) 435-0100
