Mississippi Domestic Violence Shelters Adjust During Shelter in Place Orders
As the Coronavirus spreads across the state, Mississippians are being asked to shelter in place. Victims of domestic violence not only have to deal with the stress and fears of the pandemic, but they also worry about being quarantined with their abusers. They now have to stay home for longer periods of time with those that abuse them. Children of abusers no longer have the option of using school as a temporary sanctuary. Fortunately, there are domestic violence shelters throughout the state that are open and ready to assist victims, offering multiple services such as 24 – hour crisis lines, emergency shelter, and counseling services.
Local shelters are aware that domestic violence incidents are spiking during the current shelter in place order and are ensuring that their facilities are safe for victims to reside. Domestic Violence shelters are equipped to provide their services during Mississippi’s current shelter in place order so that victims do not have to choose between their health and safety. Shelters have had to modify their screening and intake processes as well as some in-house rules. The changes being made ensure the safety of residents and staff.
Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence (GCCN), located in Biloxi, MS, has implemented additional safety measures to ensure the wellbeing of their residents. Before a client is allowed into the shelter, they have to answer specific questions during an initial phone screening to verify that they are not in danger of carrying the COVID-19 virus. If the shelter finds that they have symptoms, they refer the client to the local hospital. Once a client has passed the phone screening and completes the intake process, they are not allowed to leave and reenter the facility. Exceptions are made for employment or medical reasons. GCCN staff and residents are encouraged to frequently wash their hands and to wear face masks and gloves.
The staff at GCCN now work rotating shifts. This decreases the number of staff members on one shift, decreasing exposure to COVID-19. Staff on each shift include a supervisor, cook and clinical staff worker. Counseling services are being provided through telehealth. Court advocates are still available to help victims with protection orders.
Care Lodge, located in Meridian, MS, also has special processes in place so they can continue to assist domestic violence victims while adhering to shelter in place orders. They are currently at capacity and are utilizing these processes to maintain the safety and health of their current residents. For those victims that they are not able to house directly, the Care Lodge staff offers assistance with Safety Planning or help find a safe place to reside. In certain circumstances, this means housing a victim in a local hotel if necessary. Current residents are required to adhere to the sheltering in place measures. This means that residents are not allowed to leave and reenter the facility unless it’s for employment or medical reasons.
The staff at Care Lodge work hard at making their residents comfortable. Having a spacious backyard with some areas designated for solitude and meditation are a few ways the shelter staff care for their residents. Frequent hand washing is also encouraged for all staff and residents. Due to the difficulty of purchasing hand sanitizer, Care Lodge staff makes their own, assuring that everyone has access to the needed resource.
These are just a few examples of how domestic violence shelters in Mississippi are currently operating under the shelter in place order. This provides a snapshot of how our shelters are adjusting in order to continue to provide services to victims.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 where staff is available 24/7/365 to assist victims. To find a local domestic violence shelter, click here to view a MS state map with detailed shelter information.
Helpful Links
Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence
National Domestic Violence Hotline
National Network to End Domestic Violence
Mississippi Coalition Against Sexual Assault
