Local shelters for abused women see a 40% increase

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - There's becoming an apparent connection of what the recession is doing to certain families and it has nothing to do with finances.

Phone lines ring often at the New House shelter in northeast Kansas City. More women are seeking shelter from abuse and room is filling up quickly at all Metro shelters for abused women.

A board keeping track of the number of beds open in all metro shelters shows only one bed is available on this day.

When full, case workers call other shelters as far as an hour away from Kansas City to make sure the women are placed even if they have to go to a homeless shelter until there's an opening.

Shelter Directors at New House say they've seen a 40 percent increase during the recession.

New House's lead advocate Penny Brooks has seen it all.

"And when they come, sometimes they come in with no shoes on their feet," Brooks said. "They are just trying to get away and they don't have anything at all. They leave everything behind to try and escape the abuse."

The abuse for 25-year-old Christina Morris lasted for four years.

"I thought he loved me. He didn't, I'm so dependent and trying to break my codependency."

She says it got worse when her boyfriend lost his job, lost their house and moved around with two small children. When life got rough, Christina says the beatings increased.

Then a month ago, she had enough. Christina found refuge at New House after she says her boyfriend fractured her jaw in three places.

She has this advice for women looking for help:  "Get out now, and don’t end up like me. My kids seen it."

And sadly the children are the smallest victims of abuse. In fact, the shelter has a daycare and sometimes New House has more children than women in the building. Research shows a lot of children from violent homes may experience emotional problems later in life.

With an increased need, New House is also taking more blows. A 40 percent spike in abused women coupled with cuts in non profit funding from government agencies makes private donations more critical than ever.

To top it off, more women coming in and out of the shelter can put an extra burden on staff and there's no money to hire additional help.

But don't be discouraged from seeking help. Brooks says people should be supportive.

"As a family member, if you do have someone who is in domestic violence listen to her, don't put her down she's had enough of that."

The put-downs were just as bad as the beatings for Christina. "I'm ugly, I’m a whore, stuff like that. I'm a bad mom."

With the help of New House, Christina is now packing her bags and ready to leave the shelter after a month of refuge. The shelter not only gave her a safe place but gave her a therapist and courage to stop the abuse.

New House also bought Christina and her two young children a bus ticket far away from the metro, far away from a life of abuse.

Because of the growing need the New House Shelter in Kansas City needs some supplies to meet the demand:

• Infant Tylenol and Motrin
• Ibuprofen and Tylenol (adults)
• Large size diapers 4-5-6
• Enfamil formula
• Large size trash bags
• Plastic forks, knives and spoons
• Towels and washcloths
• Twin size blankets
• Bleach
• Used cell phones

As with all charities during this economic crisis, cash donations are also needed. Online donations are accepted at newhouseshelter.org/donate

If you have items to drop off, for safety reasons the shelter is a confidential location so please call 816-474-6446.