PEORIA, Ill. — The longer Gov. J-B Pritzker’s stay-at-home order goes on, local law enforcement is seeing more domestic violence cases.
Carol Merna, with the Center for Prevention of Abuse, told WMBD’s Greg and Dan, they expected to see the numbers go up once the stay-at-home order was put into place in March.
“During all times of crisis, whether it’s an epidemic or a natural disaster or whatever, the risk for domestic violence escalates,” Merna said.
“In troubling times like we’re experiencing now, there’s an increase in need for social services like we provide, specialized care and trauma care.”
Due to the stay-at-home order, the Center’s staff is now having to help people from home.
“We have 125 super heroes that work for us. And, about 80% are working from home. They’re practicing tele-health. They’re doing therapy from home for all our clients,” Merna said.
The Center’s shelter is currently operating at 50-75% capacity.
Merna said no one will be turned away.
“It’s just like any other time. We will just make do. We have other shelters that we can provide.”
If the shelter reaches capacity, the Center would reopen Carol’s House of Hope, which was temporarily closed two weeks ago due to the stay-at-home order.
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