Since most Las Vegans are required to stay home during the COVID-19 pandemic, one segment of the population faces another risk: being quarantined with their domestic abuser.
How You Can Help
Liz Ortenburger, CEO of local nonprofit Safe Nest, says 100,000 domestic violence calls were made to Metro last year. Based on that data, she estimates 50,000 households experienced domestic violence last year, and that roughly 40,000 households are currently quarantined with an abusive partner. It’s “typical for domestic violence victims to feel isolated in normal circumstances, and now here we are in this unprecedented time,” she says.
If you fear that a friend or loved one is experiencing domestic violence while quarantined, Ortenburger suggests small acts of kindness to let them know they’re not alone—things like “dropping off a plate of cookies (while social distancing), dropping off notes or calling the house.” Ortenburger says not to allude to the fact that you think something is going on, just use “simple check-ins” to remind them that people care.
If you are experiencing domestic violence yourself while quarantined, Ortenburger has different suggestions. “If you are in a domestic violence relationship and there’s a gun in the home and your batterer is losing his or her job, there’s an added layer of job-loss stress, and your chances of homicide are escalating,” she says. The same goes if the victim has been strangled in the past.
If you find yourself in any of these situations, Ortenburger says “it’s time to get out of that relationship, and it is time for you to get safe.” She recommends calling or texting the Safe Nest 24-hour hotline to see what the next step of action should be.
If you find yourself being victimized, Ortenburger advises the victim try to get away from enclosed spaces, such as the kitchen and bathroom, where there is greater access to weapons and hard surfaces.
Lastly, Ortenburger says Safe Nest opens its doors to all domestic violence victims, including people in the LGBTQ community, immigrants, men, children and pets. “We have multiple options for sheltering,” she said.
