Pine Bluff Shelter Seeing Spike in Abused Women
By: Deedra Wilson, KARK 4 News
Updated: November 21, 2012
According to social workers, domestic violence cases often spike around the holidays.
We can use one shelter in Jefferson County as an example of the trend.
Officials with Communities Against Spousal Abuse, or CASA tell us the number of people they're helping has nearly doubled and there's no end in sight, especially this time of year.
CASA staff say they've seen double the number of women in the last six months, than they did all last year.
For Tonya Johnson-Simmons, it was the battle at home that led her to CASA Women's Shelter in Pine Bluff.
"My husband pulled a gun on me. He pulled the trigger 5 times. He had the gun in my face, but the gun didn't go off because he was so intoxicated," she says.
Tonya found refuge at CASA, where Director Karen Palmer, said in the last six months, they've had 89 women show up for help.
That's more than all of last year, but why?
"Police are doing a great job in apprehending the perpetrators, our victim witness office are assisting women in getting orders of protection, our prosecuting attorney's office is doing a great job of prosecuting," she explains.
Karen said this brand new state of the art shelter adds to a woman's security.
It's fully equipped with a teen room, exercise facility, toddler room, full kitchen, counseling area and playground.
Things to help these women grow, said Tracie Flenon, who escaped her abuser.
"I've learned a lot and I've learned that there is a place where women can go," she says.
Activities are held, like a baby shower for client Aliesha, to make women feel at home.
"It's a good place to come to, they help you with anything."
Help from CASA and the other women, said Tonya, is what will see them through.
"It's a point where you say, Why am I here? I don't want to be here. But then we realize we need to be here," she says.
Tonya is writing a book titled "The House That CASA Built." It should be finished by the first of the year. Part of the proceeds will go to CASA.
We can use one shelter in Jefferson County as an example of the trend.
Officials with Communities Against Spousal Abuse, or CASA tell us the number of people they're helping has nearly doubled and there's no end in sight, especially this time of year.
CASA staff say they've seen double the number of women in the last six months, than they did all last year.
For Tonya Johnson-Simmons, it was the battle at home that led her to CASA Women's Shelter in Pine Bluff.
"My husband pulled a gun on me. He pulled the trigger 5 times. He had the gun in my face, but the gun didn't go off because he was so intoxicated," she says.
Tonya found refuge at CASA, where Director Karen Palmer, said in the last six months, they've had 89 women show up for help.
That's more than all of last year, but why?
"Police are doing a great job in apprehending the perpetrators, our victim witness office are assisting women in getting orders of protection, our prosecuting attorney's office is doing a great job of prosecuting," she explains.
Karen said this brand new state of the art shelter adds to a woman's security.
It's fully equipped with a teen room, exercise facility, toddler room, full kitchen, counseling area and playground.
Things to help these women grow, said Tracie Flenon, who escaped her abuser.
"I've learned a lot and I've learned that there is a place where women can go," she says.
Activities are held, like a baby shower for client Aliesha, to make women feel at home.
"It's a good place to come to, they help you with anything."
Help from CASA and the other women, said Tonya, is what will see them through.
"It's a point where you say, Why am I here? I don't want to be here. But then we realize we need to be here," she says.
Tonya is writing a book titled "The House That CASA Built." It should be finished by the first of the year. Part of the proceeds will go to CASA.
