KANSAS CITY, Mo. — According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in four women will be a victim of domestic violence. For men, it's one in seven.
"One of the things about domestic violence is that isolation and that control is maintained by keeping that person isolated from family members and from friends," Hope House CEO MaryAnne Metheny said.
At Hope House, they have two emergency shelters and comprehensive outreach services for those fleeing abusive relationships. Leaders said though the shelters stay full, they try to help everyone.
"We try and find resources for them until another bed opens up for them," Metheny said.
There are signs to look out for when it comes to domestic violence such as injuries not matching up to a person's story, or someone who had been outgoing and connected with friends and family, is no longer that way due to the relationship they're in.
Metheny said domestic violence goes beyond physical abuse.
"The physical abuse is a very prominent way that control is continued and held over someone, but there's a lot of other ways," Metheny said. "There's economic abuse, there's using the children, saying 'If you leave me, then I'm going to take the children,' 'If you don't do what I tell you to do, then something will happen with the children.'"
From 2010 to June 2018, KCPD has written more than 38,000 reports about domestic violence, which is roughly 4,500 reports a year.
That doesn't account for the number of calls the department receives on this issue.
Domestic violence prevention leaders said one of the most dangerous situations a victim can be in is trying to leave the relationship.
That's why Metheny said support is crucial.
"People who reach out and say I'm here for you if you need me — they're not being judgemental, they're not saying 'You must leave,' because people will leave when they can," Metheny said.
There are six shelters for domestic violence victims in the metro area.
For more information on how to get help or support, victims can call the metro hotline at 816-HOTLINE.
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