June 2007
Family violence affects as many as one in four children and adults in the United States during their lifetimes, according to a conservative estimate by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Dwelling Place has provided emergency shelter services to homeless families including children since 1986. Families in crisis continue to seek shelter due to a lack of affordable housing, low paying jobs, domestic violence, etc. The Dwelling Place is committed to preserving the family structure while providing stability, and then self-sufficiency, to homeless families.
The Family Violence Prevention Program at The Dwelling Place helps children and adults cope with feelings about traumatic events and works to rebuild their self-esteem. Services offered by the Art Therapist work on identifying feelings, problem solving, reducing anxiety, building communication skills and promoting self-awareness.
As part of our efforts to prevent family violence in all aspects, inside the shelter and throughout the community, The Dwelling Place administered a small study of family violence among Old Dominion University students to gain information on awareness. Students in a Sociology of Women class helped distribute the surveys.
A convenience sample was obtained and 304 ODU college students were given a 10 question survey measuring their attitudes and awareness of family violence. For the purposes of this survey, family violence was defined as "An act by a member of a family or household against another member of the family or household that can include many forms of abusive behavior: emotional abuse, psychological abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, physical assault, sexual assault, and homicide." Given the estimated age of respondents, questions regarding dating violence were also asked. Demographic information was collected and survey questions yielded the following information:
The Local Problem:
73% of the sample had heard some or a little violence in Hampton Roads, 51.0% said family violence is a major problem in Hampton Roads, and 70% say there are not enough resources for victims in Hampton Roads.
Victimization:
The majority of the sample responded they had not been a victim of family violence ever, while 10.9% admitted they had. Most respondents (55.3%) knew someone who was a victim of family violence.
11.8% of respondents said they had been victim of dating violence. Of those who answered yes, 28% African American and 56% White.
Spanking:
26% of respondents agree that spanking is a form of family violence. 42% of males condone spanking and 58% of females think it is an acceptable form of discipline.
Police Involvement:
17% of the sample think family violence is a private matter and should not involve police. Similarly, the majority (85%) agrees or strongly agrees that arresting offenders of family violence is good policy.
These results may or may not surprise you. Endabuse.org reports that one-third of American women report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives, thirty percent of Americans say they know a woman who has been physically abused by her husband or boyfriend in the past year, and more than half a million American women are victims of nonfatal violence committed by an intimate partner each year. Additionally, slightly more than half of female victims of intimate violence live in households with children under age 12 and forty percent of girls age 14 to 17 report knowing someone their age who has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend.
Comparing these results with the results of our sample of ODU college students, ODU students are faring far better. This could be due to the young age of our respondents.
If you are a victim of family or dating violence, first try to talk with somebody you trust. Call the police if you are in danger. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-SAFE for help in the area. Also, remember you are in control of your own life.
The Dwelling Place provides many services to aid parents in acquiring stability for their families. Over 60% of our families move into their own housing at the time of their exit and 70% have secured employment. To accomplish this, the agency has established five main programs: The Emergency Services Program provides immediate crisis management, assistance in find housing and employment, art therapy and other resources. The Children's Services Program provides case management for children, including ensuring children have necessary records (immunizations, birth certificates), school enrollment and transportation and parenting workshops. The Volunteer Program facilitates community involvement in all aspects of agency services and operations. The In-Home Services Program provides continuing support for clients when they exit the shelter. The primary goal is to promote self-sufficiency and prevent the reoccurrence of homelessness.