‘Domestic Violence Is at Epidemic Levels’: City Honors Lives Lost to Domestic Abuse’

October 25, 2021 - San Antonio

By Jade Esteban Estrada, Staff Writer | San Antonio Sentinel

City officials gathered on the steps of City Hall Monday to remember the lives lost to domestic violence over the past year as part of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which is observed each year in October. In addition to highlighting City programs and services available to those experiencing domestic violence, they also announced that a virtual domestic violence awareness symposium will be held Oct. 28-29. 

Municipal leaders in attendance included District 6 Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda, District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, District 3 Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran, District 4 Councilwoman Dr. Adriana Rocha Garcia, District 9 Councilman John Courage, City Manager Erik Walsh, and Mayor Ron Nirenberg.

National Domestic Violence Awareness Month was launched in October 1987 with the goal of connecting individuals and organizations working on domestic violence issues. Since then, the campaign has made considerable progress in its aim to support family violence survivors and hold abusers accountable.

“As part of the City’s crisis response team for seven years, I witnessed firsthand the devastation that domestic violence can cause to an individual, family, and community,” said Viagran earlier this month. “Using our voice is key to bringing awareness and to make sure that people can move beyond this crisis.” 

According to the Texas Council on Family Violence, 228 Texans died because of domestic violence last year, a 23% increase from 2019. In Bexar County, 17 individuals lost their lives to domestic violence-related incidents in 2020, a 31% increase from 2019. 

“Domestic violence rose everywhere in the United States last year, which is yet another grim reminder of the social conditions that have been exacerbated by Covid-19,” said Nirenberg on Monday. “That our tragedy is not unique does not make it less painful. We continue to make investments and build more robust systems to support people experiencing domestic violence to change this trend.” 

City officials also noted that in 2020 the San Antonio Police Department responded to over 62,000 calls for violence, a 15% increase from 2019. This year, calls received through September represent a 14% increase over 2020. SAPD has received 22,754 more calls for domestic violence this year than at the same time in 2019, and 18,770 more compared to 2020. 

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“Domestic violence does not discriminate,” said Walsh on Monday. “It can affect men, women, and children. It can leave lasting trauma to those who survive and those who support survivors. As the City of San Antonio, you have our ongoing commitment to invest in programs and services that prevent domestic violence. You also have our ongoing commitment to providing support and help for survivors and their families.” 

The monetary decisions handed down by the San Antonio City Council certainly reflect Walsh’s view. As part of the Fiscal Year 2022 Adopted Budget, the City invested more funding to continue addressing and preventing domestic violence in the Alamo City. This investment of $3.1 million doubles the size of the Metro Health Crisis Response Team to support evening and weekend hours at all six police substations, invests in domestic violence case management, expands partnerships with external organizations, and expands access to mental health services for children who witness violence in the home.

Additionally, a collaborative effort between San Antonio Police and Fire departments, Metro Health, Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, Bexar County Probation, and other community agencies has developed a Danger Assessment Group to use multi-agency staffing for people identified as high risk for causing severe injury in a domestic violence case. 

“Domestic violence is at epidemic levels in our community, and we must do more to eliminate it,” said District 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez in an emailed statement. “The Collaborative Commission on Domestic Violence’s ongoing work enables steps in the right direction; however, there are more levers we can pull from to ensure San Antonio’s most vulnerable have access to the tools and resources to prevent, escape, and recover from family violence and human trafficking.”

The Collaborative Commission on Domestic Violence will host the free, two-day symposium, which will feature 17 online sessions that aim to educate the community about innovations in responding to domestic violence. The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 28 with remarks from the White House Gender Policy Council’s Rosie Hidalgo McCabe, a senior advisor on gender-based violence and special assistant to President Joe Biden. 

To register for the symposium, click here.

Individuals who are experiencing domestic violence should contact the City of San Antonio Domestic Violence Hotline at 210-207-1878, Family Violence Prevention Services 24/7 Hotline at 210-733-8810, or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). 

Jade Esteban Estrada is a staff writer for the San Antonio Sentinel, where he covers public health and other citywide issues. jade@sasentinel.com | Twitter: @satx_writer