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Florida domestic violence shelters preparing for surge of calls amid COVID-19 pandemic

In areas where the virus was seen earlier, they say calls for service have increased already.

TAMPA, Fla. — Domestic violence shelters around Tampa Bay say they are preparing to see a "surge" in calls for supportive services, as many people are stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mindy Murphy is the president and CEO OF The Spring of Tampa Bay, a certified domestic violence center for Hillsborough county that provides safety and supportive services for survivors and their children.

"We know from watching around the globe that domestic violence is going to increase during the pandemic, and we suspect it already is in people’s homes," Murphy said.

She explained that stress, close proximity, and financial issues may be exacerbating the situation. 

"Having COVID-19 now creates a whole other way that an abuser can victimize his dating partner or spouse, they can tell their partner 'you can’t leave the house,'" she explained.

She said initially they saw a dip in people reaching out for services, which they believe is because it is difficult for people stuck at home with abusive partners to reach out for help safely.

"Initially, in the first few weeks because you’re stuck at home with your abuser, who is in the same room as you, around the corner from you, it’s very hard to actually reach out for services. So, like much of the country and the state, what we’ve seen is actually seen is a dip in people seek services, in the short term, because they haven’t figured out a safe way to do it, but now that we’re a month into it, our numbers are starting to climb in the Tampa Bay area and we’re starting to see more people reaching out to us for services," she said.

RELATED: How to get domestic abuse help during the COVID-19 outbreak

She says they expect that to happen as "safer at home" orders are lifted.

"We suspect, but we don’t know because this has never happened before, that the reality is as the stay at home orders are lifted that we will see a huge, massive surge in people seeking services of domestic violence centers," she said,

Murphy said they are prepared for that increase; but, in the meantime, it is important for survivors to have a plan to keep themselves safe.

"I also want to tell survivors who may be watching this, it is absolutely okay to leave your house even though there is a stay at home order, if your life is in danger inside of your house, get out of your house and we can help you, law enforcement can help you," she said, adding that their shelters are open 24/7.

All of their emergency shelters are still open and available for survivors leaving domestic violence. 

Courtney Weil says many years ago, she was helped at the spring of Tampa Bay and even stayed at one of their shelters.

Knowing that many people are “trapped” at home in potentially violent relationships because of COVID 19 is upsetting, but she has this message for anyone in that situation.

"There are so many people who love and care about you, outside of your four walls, and you might not able to see it right now, but if you can find hope through this difficult time and make it through, and you get out, there is such a beautiful life on the other side," she said.

Dr. Abby Blanco is a professor of economics at the University of Tampa. She says data shows a correlation between a rise in unemployment and intimate partner violence.

"Increases in female unemployment increase domestic violence, this is particularly relevant in talking about COVID-19 job losses is that this has hit women particularly hard," Dr. Blanco said.

She says data also shows an increase in calls for domestic violence in places that were hit with coronavirus before America.

"In other places though, we have seen a marked increase in domestic violence, so looking at data out of china, they looked at data from February 2019 and February 2020 and found that domestic violence calls were three times as many this year compared to last year," she said.

And in France she says, similar statistics.

"If we look at data coming out of France, in paris those rates have increased by 36% and it’s 32% for the country as a whole," she explained.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, you can call their crisis hotline: 813-247-7233. For more information, click here.

RELATED: 'You're not alone': Tampa Bay therapist helps us deal with this stressful time

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