Domestic Violence (DV) is a prevalent and complex issue in our world and communities. According to NCADV, on average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States.

I have gone back to my abuser several times just to avoid the shelter.

-Samantha*, Peace River Center Victim Services Client

This is unfortunately the reality for many who experience domestic violence. Survivors return to their abuser an average of seven times before leaving for good.

• There are many barriers that may cause a victim to stay with or return to their abusive partner:
• Fear of single parenting or guilt about removing a child from their other parent
• Reduced financial circumstances
• Absence of family or a solid support system
• Worry that the abuser’s actions will become more violent
• Lack of understanding on how to access safety and support

And the list goes on. But with your continued support, Peace River Center Victim Services can help survivors like Samantha improve their lives.

After multiple domestic violence incidents, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) gave Samantha an ultimatum: enter the domestic violence shelter with the children tonight or we will remove them from the home. She never wanted her children to witness what she endured, but the obstacles felt too big, the unknown too scary. Samantha’s perspective changed when she arrived at PRC’s domestic violence shelter with her three children:

Thanks to the support she received at Peace River Center’s certified domestic violence shelter, Samantha continued to work as a teacher. Alongside PRC’s compassionate, knowledgeable advocates she became informed and empowered. She applied for and was awarded her injunction. Pleased to see her growth and willingness to protect her children, DCF closed her case. PRC’s advocates connected her to relocation resources, safety planned her relocation trip, and provided her family with a Welcome Home basket filled with essentials for their new home.

*To protect her identity, Samantha’s name and photo are fictional.