CLEVELAND — Across Ohio, officials are seeing a stark increase in domestic violence over the span of two years.
The Ohio Domestic Violence Network reported 131 people died from domestic violence from July 2020 to June of 2021. That’s a 20% increase from the previous year and a 62% increase since 2018-19. All of this is something those at Journey Center for Safety and Healing aren't shocked about, saying at one point during the pandemic, they saw fewer calls.
Read MoreCLEVELAND (WJW) – When domestic violence escalated during the pandemic, community leaders in Northeast Ohio were not surprised.
It’s been a year and half and they say the number of violent cases keeps growing.
“There are evidence-based indicators that a case is more likely to escalate to a homicide or to a nearly fatal attack. Some of those indicators are if the abuser owns a gun, if there’s ever been strangulation in the relationship, at all, if there’s been a recent job loss, if an abuser has ever threatened suicide,” said Melissa Graves, CEO of Journey Center For Safety and Healing in Cleveland.
Read MoreCLEVELAND -- As Congress passes another coronavirus relief package, millions of unemployed workers remain waiting for the help they desperately need. For immigrant survivors of domestic violence, waiting for help in a time of need is nothing new.
Read MoreWith the number of COVID-19 cases rising, Journey Center for Safety and Healing is concerned about rising numbers of domestic violence and is receiving less funding.
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