What is Domestic Violence?
Domestic Violence, also referred to as Domestic Abuse, is a pattern of coercive behavior in which one person attempts to control another through threats or actual use of physical violence, sexual assault, and verbal or psychological abuse. Many victims of abuse do not recognize that they are abused. Anyone can be a victim of abuse, no matter their race, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, education, or income level. In the past year, we provided support services to more than 1,600 victims of domestic violence.
1 IN 4 WOMEN
1 in 4 Women in the United States report experiencing some form of violence at the hands of an intimate partner at some point in her life.*
1 IN 7 MEN
1 in 7 Men in the United States report experiencing some form of violence at the hands of an intimate partner at some point in his life.*
We are here to help you understand what abuse is and how to get help.
Internet Safety
If you are worried someone you don’t trust and/or could be a danger to you is monitoring your online activities, here are some tips to help you stay safe online:
Avoid using email, chat, messaging or texting to talk to someone about the danger or abuse in your life. Please call our helpline at 1-800-559-2927 instead.
If you’re on Facebook, Twitter or other social networking sites, consider removing your profile if you think your abuser will stalk or harass you that way.
If you want to look up important information, use a safe computer – at a library, a friend’s house, or community college.
About Safe Voices
Safe Voices currently operates the only shelter and support services
for victims of domestic violence and sex trafficking and exploitation in
Androscoggin, Franklin, and Oxford counties. Our offices provide one-on-one safety planning, support groups, information and referral, court advocacy, transportation and accommodation for shelter, community education, and professional trainings.
We appreciate the generous support from our donors and involvement from community members. Your contributions make a difference. Safe Voices provides over 10,000 hours annually supporting survivors of domestic abuse and sex trafficking.
