Trigger Warning: This story contains details relating to domestic violence and abuse against women.
The Long Beach branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) held a virtual discussion about domestic violence on Sunday, Oct. 17 alongside representatives of the shelter Interval House.
“I am sure that if I had not come to Interval House I would not be alive today,” said Elvia Hurtado, director for Interval House’s Latino and legal programs.
Interval House strives to provide victims of domestic violence with culturally sensitive assistance and resources, and was one of the first shelters in the nation to provide services in over 70 languages, according to Fox 11 news anchor Christine Divine, a speaker at the event.
“I tried to leave him many times, but he always found me,” Hurtado said of her husband. “After many years I finally discovered a way out, and it was Interval House. I was very lucky because it was the only shelter in those days that had a Spanish-speaking program.”
Interval House partners with the Long Beach Police Department to provide resources to victims of domestic violence.
“We can’t do it on our own,” said Lieutenant Eric Hooker of the LBPD. “The partnerships we’ve created with Interval House and other nonprofits has been tremendously helpful.”
According to Hooker, there have been 1,187 cases of domestic violence reported to LBPD in 2021.
According to Interval House’s website, 98% of its staff have personally been affected by domestic violence.
Diana Lam first came to Interval House as a five-year-old child. She now works as the shelter’s senior case manager and domestic violence counselor.
“I was only five years old when my father attempted to kill my mother in the driveway of our home,” Lam said. “Fortunately for us, a neighbor heard my mom screaming and crying. That neighbor risked their life to help us escape from my father.”
After rescuing Lam’s mother, their neighbor also helped them contact the police.
“That evening we contacted so many shelters, but no one would take us because my mother only spoke Vietnamese,” Lam said. “I thank God we were able to reach Interval House, who took us in immediately despite the language barrier and welcomed us.”
Wilma Powell, who worked as the director of Trade and Maritime Services for the Port of Long Beach before she retired, shared her story of having to flee her home state of Texas to escape her abusive first husband.
She also explained that abusers come from all walks of life, and can be the people you’d least expect.
“The man I was married to, he was like a god in the community,” Powell said. “He was college-educated, he was a teacher, he was a coach, a very good looking man. Nobody would have never, ever expected this of him.”
According to Hooker, LBPD saw an increase in domestic violence incidents since the pandemic started, with a 20% rise in cases in 2020, and an additional 13% rise in cases in 2021 so far.
“The stay-at-home orders were not safe for victims that are even more isolated than ever before,” said Sharon Wei, director of programs for Interval House. “Here in Long Beach, as well as across the country, the problems of increasing domestic violence has been a pandemic within a pandemic, and it’s been like a dual public health crisis.”
Interval House provides emergency housing and other resources for victims of domestic violence, regardless of gender. Victims can contact their hotline at 562-594-4555 or 714-891-8121 for help. Interval House can be reached via email at admin@intervalhouse.org
