Amidst a growing need for safe places for victims of domestic violence, shelters have found it more difficult to place people in need of safety.
According to spokespersons for both YWCA and Morningstar Sanctuary, shelter space has always been an issue, but since the implementation of the Lethality Assessment Protocol, or LAP, calls and requests for shelter have increased significantly. LAP is a tool law enforcement uses to determine how much danger a victim is in.
"We used to experience 350 calls a month, but now we are doing 700 calls a month," said Tracy DeTomasi, Vice President of YWCA. "If all of our shelters are full, then they have to wait. We encourage them to call back as much as possible until they can get in."
Many victims have been turned away or directed to other shelters - most of which stay full.
"We'll use the Y, we'll use other services in other counties. To try to get them somewhere safe if we can't help them," said Ashley Heath, program manager for Morningstar Sanctuary. "Typically, we all stay pretty full."
Both Heath and DeTomasi said they won't turn away any victims who are in serious danger. Both were currently at capacity. In fact, YWCA was handling 53 people even though their capacity is technically 51. Morningstar was full with 17 people. They were all women and children.
"There are women trying to get in everyday," said DeTomasi.
The locations of the shelters and identities of the people housed there are confidential. However, one of the women who is staying in Morningstar agreed to talk.
"The guy I was messing with was violent. So, he has been for a while," said the woman, who has been in the shelter for three weeks. She feared for her life when the abuse initially started.
"I wanted to get out of that relationship. I kept going back but I made up my mind that I really wanted to get out of that relationship."
Since escaping abuse, the woman got a new job and hoped to have an apartment soon.
She was one of the lucky ones. Morningstar typically turns away 11 to 12 people a day who are seeking shelter. Most are forwarded to other shelters or are encouraged to keep calling back. The YWCA says some women and children end up on the streets.
Funds for shelters are tight. YWCA has a $2.4 million budget and is getting $250,000 from the city of Nashville. Morningstar isn't sure where its funding will come from. Both shelters raise money through fundraisers, donations, the federal government and grants.
For anyone experiencing domestic violence, the YWCA has a hotline available: (800)334-4628.
