Thirty percent of all female murder victims in the United States were killed by their boyfriends or husbands. In Colorado Springs, domestic violence homicides accounted for 44 percent of all murders in 2002. (T*E*S*S*A statistics)The El Paso County Department of Human Services issued a press release on May 4 citing a much higher demand for social services in 2003. Approximately 741 children – an increase of 9 percent – are living in foster care or residential and group homes. The department served approximately 4,000 more households in 2003 – a 17 percent jump from last year. Although the 9,387 reports to the child abuse and neglect hotline decreased by 4 percent this year, investigations of those abuses increased by 7 percent.As the population grows and the need to increase social services heightens, the department continues to face budget cuts. In 2003, the department reduced its staff and cut expenditures by $7 million.Because of limited funds and resources, social service agencies have traditionally formed partnerships with like agencies to respond better to the community’s needs, enhancing the overall health and welfare of the community.The Domestic Violence Enhanced Response Team (DVERT) formed in 1996 with three partners. Today, the community collaboration is partnering with 39 local agencies that include, to name a few, area law enforcement personnel; T*E*S*S*A, a Springs nonprofit group that addresses the needs of victims of domestic and family violence and adult sexual assault; and animal welfare officers from the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region. According to DVERT’s written mission statement, its goals are to “enhance the safety of high-risk-for-lethality victims, including children and animals; ensure appropriate containment of high-risk offenders; facilitate local community oriented policing initiatives; provide specialized training locally and nationally; and support communities seeking to develop and sustain similar collaborate efforts.”DVERT attempts to meet those goals through a multi-disciplinary approach to the problems of family violence, victim advocacy programs, case management, specialized training, research, community outreach, etc. DVERT administrators have reached out to the business community as well for support and involvement.Caroline Holmes is the DVERT program coordinator, and she discussed a particular project that offers avenues of participation for the business community. Women in transition from their abusive situations are at the highest risk for injury and/or death, Holmes said. Some people have difficulty understanding why women stay in abusive situations, but it is never as black and white as it appears to the outsiders. There are many barriers to independent living and, with the rising housing costs in Colorado Springs, finding an alternative housing situation is not easy.The DVERT Rewards Program is in response to the lack of housing available for victims of domestic violence who need to leave their current living arrangement. In 2002, domestic violence agencies in Colorado denied 5,361 requests for shelter because of a lack of space (Colorado Coalition against Domestic Violence). In 2002, Springs-based T*E*S*S*A turned away 54 local requests for shelter because of a shortage of options for emergency safe-housing situations.To counteract the problem, DVERT administrators, in July 2003, met with representatives from the Apartment Association of Colorado Springs to enlist their help. One apartment owner agreed to provide three apartments to the program at no charge to the victims. Since then, other apartment owners and organizations that provide subsidized housing have aligned with the project.The rewards program links domestic violence victims with multi-family housing communities that are willing to waive or reduce deposits, extra fees and rents. Victims of domestic violence can apply for short-term and/or long-term housing through DVERT. In addition to apartment owners and housing agencies, other businesses can get involved by donating household goods to the victims who are in transition. Sometimes, women leaving their situation take only the clothes on their backs.Holmes said individuals and business organizations could participate through the gift basket project. Project coordinators have identified the victims’ immediate needs, like peanut butter, soaps and towels, and they have gone to various faith-based groups and business leaders in the community to request gift baskets inclusive of these items. Once the victim secures an alternate living arrangement, she is equipped with the initial necessities, having one less thing to worry about.Cari Davis, the executive director of T*E*S*S*A, enjoys the partnership with DVERT. “This collaboration is a unique model addressing violence in a holistic manner,” Davis said. “We don’t take this issue seriously in this community – a lot of people hurt others and don’t suffer the consequences.” Davis said one in five American women is a victim of some type of abuse. Everyone is affected by family violence, and it is important to educate the community to the effects of violence on not only the family but also in the workplace, Davis said. “We need to consistently send a message that abuse is not acceptable,” Davis said.”Abuse is not going to end until communities decide to end it,” Holmes said. “We cannot solve community ills without engaging the community.”To apply for short-term housing through the DVERT program, visit the Web site at www.dvert.org or call 444-7813.
