Delray Beach police warn about rise in domestic violence calls for help

There have been 21 domestic-related phone calls last week, and they are raising the alarm on this recent spike.

On Friday, the police department announced a simple text to 911 can help in save a life, if a voice call is not possible.

Delray Beach non-profit organization Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse, or AVDA, provides a safe haven for victims and their children in need of shelter, educational and mental health programs to help them get back on their feet.

They offer the same text service.

Once a message is sent to 561-265-2900, a secure link to pops up to chat.

Staff can arrange to send someone to your home in 15 to 20 minutes if needed, according to Jennifer Ray.

“It’s completely through a secured link, so once the conversation is over, that conversation deletes off of their phone,” said Jennifer Ray, AVDA Program Services Director. “That’s important because perpetrators of domestic violence are going to go through a cellphone to find out who they’re talking to.”

She says there’s seeing all kinds of abuse at the hands of a perpetrator – it’s not always just physical violence.

“Controlling who they see, where they go, what jobs they can or cannot have, if they can go to school, how they raise their children, what they wear, who they can be friends with. That is there ongoing pattern of coercive and controlling behaviors,” Jennifer Ray said.

AVDA is partnered with dozens of local resources in the area including 211 Hotline of Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast.

Trained counselors are standby ready to respond by phone or also by simply texting 898-211.

“If you are experiencing abuse in your home just know that you are not alone,” she added. “We have a lot of resources support and options for people to access in order for them to make decisions so they do not have to live under somebody else’s control.”