Houston groups seek to reverse rising domestic violence trends From the cover
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in the case of U.S. v. Rahimi. The court determined that people subject to domestic violence restraining orders have a constitu- tional right to possess a rearm. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments on the case in early November, and HAWC has started a petition to have the court overturn the previous ruling.
About 73% of intimate part- ner violence homicides in the Houston area between 2019-22 involved guns, according to an October news release from the Houston Area Women’s Center. During an Oct. 9 news confer- ence, HAWC President and CEO Emilee Whitehurst raised concerns about a ruling in February by the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals
but those are just those reported, and it’s an underreported crime,” Smith said. “Houston just doesn’t have enough resources.” The number of households in the HCDVCC’s housing queue rose from 589 in 2021 to 977 in 2022. The number of calls requesting shelter space grew between the two years from 956 in 2021 to 1,307 in 2022. Because children are also involved in the request for shelter, HCDVCC o cials said calls for shelter require space for three people on average. Heather Bellino—CEO of the Texas Advocacy Project, a nonpro t that works to end domestic violence, sexual abuse and stalking—said legal services are also a huge unmet needs for survivors. “A temporary bed is one thing; free legal services get you where you need to go the fastest,” Bellino said.
Intimate partner homicides doubled in Harris County between 2019 and 2022, according to a study released in February by the University of Houston’s Institute for Research on Women, Gender & Sexuality. At the same time, the number of people in the area seeking shelter was on the rise in 2022. Intimate partner violence, a subset of domestic violence, refers speci cally to violence toward an intimate partner, current or former. Around 65%-75% of people who call seeking shelter space are not able to get shelter in Harris County, said Amy Smith, communications director with the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, which works to provide safety for survivors and hold abusers accountable. “When you look at the domestic violence reports, it’s staggering,
Intimate partner violence homicides by weapons Guns were more likely to be used in intimate partner homicides in each year from 2019 to 2022 than all other weapons combined.
Guns Other*
29
23
18
14
9
19
7
3
2021
2020
2019
2022
*INCLUDES BLUNT TRAUMA, CUTTING AND STRANGULATION, AS WELL AS INCIDENTS WHERE THE WEAPON IS UNKNOWN
SOURCE: HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Intimate partner violence homicides, tracked by local law enforcement
A local look
64
60
46
32
2022
2020
2021
2019
Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council housing queue
Requests for shelter: 956
Requests for shelter: 1,307
Placed in shelters: 330 Still in queue:* 977
Placed in shelters: 367 Still in queue:* 589
2021
2022
The Houston Area Women’s Center’s new four-story facility is estimated to be completed at the end of 2024 with 360 e ciency and one-bedroom units.
*AS OF THE END OF THE YEAR
Construction will run through the end of 2024. The project costs roughly $45 million, with the city of Houston contributing about $16 million. HAWC also plans to increase its sta from 130 to 177. Once completed, HAWC o cials said they hope to provide safety to at least 95% of those deter- mined to be in danger. HAWC o cials said they would sell their current o ce space in Montrose, valued at $12 million.
The HAWC is in the process of opening a new facility that will triple the number of beds on site from 120 beds to 360 beds. The center will also o er: • Behavioral health services • A nancial empowerment center • A career counseling center • An elementary school approved by Houston ISD • A child care center
Average domestic violence/sexual assault calls per day by quarter Houston Area Women’s Center
The Bridge Over Troubled Waters
60 40 20 0
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4 Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
2021
2022
SOURCES: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, HARRIS COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNCIL, HOUSTON AREA WOMEN’S CENTER, THE BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS COMMUNITY IMPACT
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