The COVID-19 pandemic has presented impossible situations and life-altering changes to many aspects of life. With shelter in place orders and other new guidelines implemented, domestic violence survivors and programs throughout the state of Minnesota face new challenges and concerns, including a rise in the high risk abuse cases reported. 

A Rise in Severity

“We’re incredibly concerned about the severity of domestic violence trending upwards,” Brittany Robb, the Executive Director of Safe Haven Shelter and Resource Center in Duluth said. 

Robb speculated that the rise in violence could both be due to drastic circumstances pushing people to ask for help when they might not have done so before, and isolation fueling more extreme forms of abuse in relationships. 

According to Becky Smith, Communications Director for Violence Free Minnesota, which works with over 90 domestic abuse programs throughout the state, Minnesota is such a large territory that domestic violence data during the pandemic has varied greatly. However, a commonality seems to be the escalation of extreme abuse cases reported throughout Minnesota.

“In terms of the pandemic … victims who are calling into hotlines are reporting an increase in the severity of violence,” Smith said.

While Smith attributed the increase in severity to many factors, she said a likely cause of the rising violence could be the difficulty of practicing de-escalation tactics during the pandemic, and the fact that the pandemic is a national crisis and violence rates tend to rise in times of crisis.

According to Robb, Safe Haven typically sees more lower to moderate risk cases of abuse than high risk or severe cases. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, however, she says it has been the opposite, with a rise in severe cases being reported and a decrease in low to moderate cases. 

“That, to us, is incredibly concerning because we know that they’re out there,” Robb said of the low to moderate cases. 

Smith said each year approximately 50,000 people in Minnesota reach out to domestic violence services — at least half of people experiencing violence don’t reach out to services at all. During the pandemic, programs throughout the state have seen both sharp increases and decreases in demand for domestic abuse services. 

Changing Numbers 

Safe Haven reported a 23% spike in calls to their domestic violence call line in the weeks following March 13.

Robb believes the increase in calls was mainly a result of survivors calling for one of two reasons: realizing they needed to get away from their abuser before they no longer could due to pandemic restrictions, or realizing that they would not be able to escape in time and needing to prepare themselves and their families to be trapped with an abuser. 

“The folks that were reaching out for help just needed something right away,” Robb said.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline reported that, while slow at first, their hotline saw a 9% increase in calls during this time as compared to 2019 data. 

After Minnesota’s Shelter in Place Order was implemented on March 27, Robb said Safe Haven saw a 50% decrease in demand for domestic violence resources for about three weeks, with numbers gradually resuming normal rates again after the order was lifted. 

“A major part of the reason that we weren’t seeing the same outreach from survivors was because they were just … trapped with their abusers in a way that they maybe had not been before,” Robb said. 

Kristen Walters, the Development and Communications Manager at the Committee Against Domestic Abuse (CADA), which works against domestic abuse in nine Minnesota counties, said that they also saw a decrease in calls directly following the Shelter in Place Order. 

Walters believes this was largely due to survivors being unable to reach out because of the close proximity of their abusers and the varying degrees of isolation resulting from the pandemic.

Isolation and Abuse During the Pandemic 

Walters pointed out that domestic and sexual violence can impact every aspect of someone’s life, and now the pandemic is also impacting every aspect of people’s lives. 

“People are not only trying to navigate trauma … but they’re also navigating the pandemic,” Walters said.

Smith expressed concern that phones, computers and transportation may have all been taken away by the abuser. This, along with the closing of schools and public libraries, could leave a survivor with very limited avenues for help. 

“It leaves victims and survivors feeling very isolated and really having to figure out new ways to navigate the abuse and violence they’re experiencing,” Smith said. 

Financial isolation could also be a factor. Robb pointed out that many people in domestic abuse situations were once financially independent and stable, but now may find all of their finances controlled by their abuser. 

“It's just such an insidious process,” Robb said. “Abusers really kind of work towards breaking down the self esteem and this person’s self perception of who they are and what they’re capable of.” 

How to Help

Smith said that everyone has a role to play in stopping domestic violence, whether it’s making yourself a resource for someone experiencing violence or speaking out against violent behavior when you see it. 

“When people are harming other people, we really need to start to call them in,” Smith said. “If you feel safe enough to do so, you should approach them and let them know that you’re concerned about them as well and to also say that behavior is not okay.”

Violence Free Minnesota’s website offers resources for both survivors and abusers. The Duluth Model also provides restorative justice solutions by working with abusers. 

Robb and Walters both emphasized that remaining in contact with people and providing support for someone who discloses that they are in an abusive situation is crucial. 

“Always believe them, even if it sounds like the most unbelievable thing, because abusers do unbelievable things to people,” Robb said. 

Smith said that the most important thing can be maintaining a connection with the person experiencing abuse. 

“Violence breeds in isolation,” Walters said. “When we stay connected… we are all safer.”

Affordable housing was another area that Robb focused on when talking about possible solutions for domestic violence in Minnesota. Many domestic violence survivors find themselves homeless when trying to leave their situations. In fact, people experiencing domestic violence are one of four groups federally classified as homeless. 

“The broader community should always always be focused on ... housing,” Robb said. 

Seeking Help

In light of the evolving circumstances surrounding the pandemic, many domestic violence resources have altered their programs to match the needs of survivors, expanding their outreach through the internet and local communities. Some have visited local food shelves, while others have partnered with hotels to safely house survivors when shelters have reached their capacity. 

Walters emphasized that there are ways to get help that aren’t a phone call, suggesting text lines and online chat options.

Robb shared that Safe Haven’s website offers a “safe exit” option to those visiting the site, allowing them to quickly close the webpage and erase the history of the site. 

If a person is unable to access websites or safely make a phone call at home, Robb suggested saving the number and stepping into a public restroom during errands to make the call or trying to make contact through email or the Facebook Messenger app. 

Smith added that going into the bathroom and turning on the shower, then texting with an advocate could be another possible option. 

“The most important thing, I would say is, reaching out to someone that you trust, letting them know what’s happening, making a safety plan,” Smith said. 

While calling 911 can be a scary idea for some, Robb shared that the police officers that work with Safe Haven on a daily basis are “phenomenal.”

“We’re here to help no matter who you are and no matter what circumstance you’re in,” Robb said. 

24 Hour Call Centers

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)

DayOne Crisis Hotline: 866-223-1111

Violence Free Minnesota Text Line: 621-399-9995

Safe Haven Hotline: 218-728-6481

The Committee Against Domestic Abuse Hotline: 1-800-477-0466

The Committee Against Domestic Abuse Text Line: 507-223-4200