Dear Friend,
Can you believe we are already nearing the end of 2021? After all we’ve been through these past two years as a community, it’s finally beginning to feel like brighter days are on the horizon.
While we may be heading out of the worst of the pandemic, the long-term economic and emotional impact of an almost two-year pandemic will be felt by the most vulnerable in our communities for the next couple of years, at least.
At Safe Harbor, we are just beginning to see the devastating toll it has taken on the lives of victims of domestic violence and their children. Our Director of Shelter Advocacy, Michelle Gilbert, reflected on what she has experienced from the front lines of our agency throughout this difficult year.
“Over the last year, lots of things have kept me awake at night. Our 24/7 Helpline calls are at the top of that list. After over a decade at Safe Harbor, I’ve seen and heard a lot, but this year has been brutal as we’ve had a significant increase in the number of high lethality calls.
The voices and stories have been both horrific and gut-wrenching. The intensity, level of desperation and sense of helplessness have magnified. The call details paint vivid pictures of scenes no one should ever have to imagine, let alone experience.
For many, we were the difference between life and death. And, the weight of that lingered long after the call ended.
In many ways, this year has left us all wounded. The pandemic fed an already raging monster and we’re still reeling from the aftermath. Victims are facing unprecedented challenges. We’ve stretched staff to the point of exhaustion. Our phones continue to ring. And reality is, there are not enough resources. Despite our best efforts, every day is a struggle.
More so than ever, we need people to know that victims of domestic abuse are not just depending upon Safe Harbor’s Helpline to answer their call for help. They’re depending on everyone in our community to respond.
If we are to survive this, it’s going to take all of us."
