Mon, Feb 5th, 2024 - 5:25am
October 27, 2022 - 9:11am | By Kyle Cornell
(Fargo, ND) -- A trend that has continued to worsen since the COVID-19 pandemic is only taking more turns for concern here in the FM Metro.
Domestic Violence incidents have risen sharply in the past year, according to members of the Rape and Abuse Crisis Center of Fargo-Moorhead.
"During the pandemic the phones kind of went dead and everybody sheltered at home with their abuser," said Jody Hudson and Nicole Nimens, who are both members of the leadership team at the center. "Now things are really hopping, unfortunately."
Both tell WDAY Radio's Bonnie and Friends that the year over year numbers of domestic abuse is growing at an uncomfortable rate, and that is effecting workers and volunteers at the center too.
"Looking at our numbers from last year to this year we are seeing more than 20% increase and a spike over where we were pre-pandemic," said Hudson and Nimens. "The amount of walk-ins that we’re seeing just on top of our every day clients appointments that are scheduled is enough to keep a lot of our advocates busy to the point that clients are going to have to wait sometimes."
So, what age group is being the most impacted by this increase? As it turns out, the range is expansive.
"We actually see anybody from youngsters all the way up until 70s and 80s. Some people that come in in their elder years, they could’ve been with a partner for 20, 30 years and it was maybe something where they were just so used to this world."
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. If you or someone you know needs help involving a situation like this, you can reach the Rape and Abuse Crisis Center team at (701) 293-7273, or visit their website.
The National Sexual Assault Hotline can be found by dialing 1-800-656-4673.
