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What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence can be defined as a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner.

Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone.

Physical Abuse:
Hitting, slapping, shoving, grabbing, pinching, biting, hair-pulling, biting, etc. Physical abuse also includes denying a partner medical care or forcing alcohol and/or drug use.

Sexual Abuse:
Coercing or attempting to coerce any sexual contact or behavior without consent. Sexual abuse includes, but is certainly not limited to marital rape, attacks on sexual parts of the body, forcing sex after physical violence has occurred, or treating one in a sexually demeaning manner.

Emotional Abuse:
Undermining an individual's sense of self-worth and/or self-esteem. This may include, but is not limited to constant criticism, diminishing one's abilities, name-calling, or damaging one's relationship with his or her children.

Economic Abuse:
Making or attempting to make an individual financially dependent by maintaining total control over financial resources, withholding one's access to money, or forbidding one's attendance at school or employment.

Psychological Abuse:
Causing fear by intimidation; threatening physical harm to self, partner, children, or partner's family or friends; destruction of pets and property; and forcing isolation from family, friends, or school and/or work.

Domestic violence can happen to anyone regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion, or gender. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels.
Domestic violence occurs in both opposite-sex and same-sex relationships and can happen to intimate partners who are married, living together, or dating.

Domestic violence not only affects those who are abused, but also has a substantial effect on family members, friends, co-workers, other witnesses, and the community at large. Children, who grow up witnessing domestic violence, are among those seriously affected by this crime. Frequent exposure to violence in the home not only predisposes children to numerous social and physical problems, but also teaches them that violence is a normal way of life - therefore, increasing their risk of becoming society's next generation of victims and abusers.

Sources: National Domestic Violence Hotline, National Center for Victims of Crime, and WomensLaw.org.

What is Battering?

Battering is a pattern of coercive behavior used to establish power and control over another person.

Who is Battered?

The largest percentage of individuals battered are women; “85% of domestic violence victims are women.” (Bureau of Justice Statistics Crime Data Brief, Intimate Partner Violence, 1993-2001, February 2003.) In all cultures, rural and urban individuals of all religious, ethnic, socio-economic and educational backgrounds and of varying ages, physical abilities and lifestyles can be affected by domestic violence. There is not a typical woman who will be battered - the risk factor is being born female.

Battered individuals may also include; heterosexual males; immigrant and refugee women; children; Individuals with physical, psychiatric and cognitive disabilities; pregnant women; older women; rural women; same sex partners; and teens.

How Can I Get Help?

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS:

Emergency: 911

Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-500-1119

Victim Response, Inc./The Lodge (305) 693-1170

North Dade Victim Center (305) 758-2546

South Dade Victim Center (305) 247-4249

Rape Treatment Center (305) 585-5185

Switchboard of Miami (305) 358-4357

Women’s Shelter of Hope (305) 888-5001

MUJER (305) 247-1388

What if I’m Not Ready To Leave Yet?

Read our Safety Plan.

How do Domestic Violence Victims find us?

• FCADV
• Hotlines
• Internet
• Law Enforcement
• Legal Aid Office
• State Attorney’s Office
• Switchboard of Miami

What happens if we don’t have space?

There are many individuals looking for shelter and not nearly enough beds available. At The Lodge, we always offer an alternative.

• Safety Planning is completed with all hotline callers
• Referral to other shelters or community agencies

What happens after shelter stay?

• Direct Relief
• Outreach
• Safety Planning
• Support Groups
• Transitional Housing

How can I help?

• Donating
• Volunteer
• Apply for a job

Does your agency offer training?

See our Training page.

Statistics

See our Statistics page.