Story by: Abbey Crain

As schools, restaurants and office buildings close in an attempt to stall the spread of Covid-19, victims of domestic violence are stuck in a seemingly more dangerous place; their home.

Allison Dearing, executive direction of Birmingham’s One Place Family Justice Center, which provides services to victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, said being self-isolated or quarantined can be dangerous for people in abusive homes.

“At a time of social isolation when we’re all seemingly hunkered down in our homes because of this virus, if you are in a relationship or in a home that isn’t safe, then that gives danger a whole new meaning.”

One Place remains open and active for survivors who seek help fleeing, prosecuting, or seeking help from a violent partner or home.

“When people are already in a vulnerable situation, and then a crisis occurs, we do expect that violence to increase,” Dearing said.

Click the link below for more information on crisis resources centers across the state.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention one in four women and one in 10 men have experienced severe physical violence from an intimate partner. Of the 26,892 violent offenses reported in Alabama 2017 the year for which the most recent data in available, 16 percent were domestic violence incidents, 80 percent of those against women.

Dearing said calls for help to One Place have decreased in the past couple of weeks, since the coronavirus crisis first affected Alabamians, which she said could be due in part to survivors not being able to safely call from inside their homes. One Place is available via email at oneplacebham1@outlook.com and by phone at 205-453-7261.

Centers such as One Place can also assist people who need to file a protection from abuse order, a civil order in Alabama that protects people from abuse by a current or former intimate partner or certain household members. One Place Family Justice Center in Montgomery is able to process protection from abuse orders online. One Place in Montgomery can be reached by phone at 334-262-7378 and by email at info@oneplacefjc.org.

Survivors who are not yet in mandated quarantine status should seek help now, the CEO of the National Domestic Violence Hotline said in this TIME story.

Otherwise, until individuals can more safely move about in public, Dearing said survivors in violent households can protect themselves by locking firearms away and hiding knives or other possible household weapons.

She said community members should also take responsibility to keep others safe by checking in daily on people who they think could be in abusive situations. Dearing suggested sharing a code word with a trusted friend or neighbor to know when to call 911.

Crisis Centers in Alabama

North Alabama

Crisis Services of North Alabama

Crisis Line: 256-716-1000, Office: 256-716-4052

Family Services of North Alabama

Crisis Line: 256-878-9159, Office: 256-878-9159

Shoals Crisis Center/ Rape Response, Inc.

Crisis Line: 256-767-1100, Office: 256-765-0025

Victim Services of Cullman, Inc.

Crisis Line: 256-734-6100, Office: 256-775-2600

South Alabama

The Lighthouse

Crisis Line: 251-947-4393, Office: 251-947-6197

The House of Ruth, Inc.

Crisis Line: 334-793-2232, Office: 334-793-5214

Penelope House

Crisis Line: 251-459-6665

East Alabama

2nd Chance, Inc.

Crisis Line: 256-236-7233, Office: 256-236-7381

Crisis Center of Russell County

Crisis Line: 334-297-4401, Office: 334-297-4435

Rape Counselors of East Alabama, Inc.

Crisis Line: 334-705-0510, Office: 334-741-0707

West Alabama

Turning Point Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Services

Crisis Line: 205-758-0808, Office: 205-758-0808

Central Alabama

Crisis Center, Inc.

Rape Response: 205-323-7273, Office: 205-323-7782

Family Sunshine Center

Crisis Line: 334-263-0218, Office: 334-206-2100

Lighthouse Counseling Center, Inc./Standing Together Against Rape STAR

Crisis Line: 334-213-1227, Office: 334-286-5980

SafeHouse of Shelby County, Inc.

Crisis Line: 205-669-7233, Office: 205-669-1877

One Place Family Justice Center Montgomery

Crisis Line: 1-800-650-6522, Office: 334-262-7378

One Place Family Justice Center Birmingham

Office: 205-453-7261

SABRA Sanctuary Selma

Crisis Line: 1-800-650-6522

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