We at Legal Momentum are doing our share to #FlattentheCurve by working from home and caring for our families. While we recognize that staying home may be the best course for avoiding COVID-19, for some home can be a dangerous place for other reasons. During times of natural disasters the U.S. has seen spikes in domestic violence perpetration and we know the same is and will be true during this pandemic. We were pleased to see this issue addressed recently in the national press, in Time and the Huffington Post.
Victims of domestic violence are isolated with their abusers and some abusers will use the current crisis to intimidate and harm their victims. Seeking help is made even more difficult given social-distancing measures and fear of exposure to COVID-19. The economic impact of this crisis will prevent many victims from gaining the financial independence to escape. The overloaded healthcare system will create situations where victims of domestic and sexual violence are fearful of accessing or unable to receive treatment for injuries.
As our lawmakers create and debate policy measures needed to get our country through this pandemic, Legal Momentum as a Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) pioneer and re-authorization leader, will continue to advocate along with our colleague organizations for policies and funding that are critical to serving the needs of domestic and sexual violence victims.
If you or someone you know is the victim of domestic violence, help is available from the National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call 1-800-799-7233 or visit.
If you or someone you know if the victim of sexual assault, help is available from the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) and The National Network to End Domestic Violence.
Legal Momentum’s Helpline remains available to provide legal information and referrals on issues related to sex discrimination in the workplace, home, school and the courts.
REACH us LMHelpline.org
EMAIL us help@LMHelpline.org
CALL us (971) 3 LEGAL-1 (971) 353-4251
Thank you for your ongoing support - you make our work possible! Stay safe and stay healthy.
The Legal Momentum Team
