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COVID-19 OPERATIONS UPDATES
UPDATES FROM THE CEO
OUR MISSION AND VISION REMAIN!
My Sister's House remains committed to providing comprehensive support, services, and education within and beyond the walls of our shelter. As we continue to adjust to this new normal, we are finding creative ways to address the unique needs and challenges of our clients and community during this time. MSH will continue to follow the guidance of the SC Department of Health and Environmental Controls (DHEC) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and follow the directives of state and local authorities to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Below, you will find a comprehensive list of our service and program updates. Please note that this list is continuously updated–check back here for the most up-to-date information.
COVID-19 IMPACT
For Survivors: Increased Risk of DV
For victims of domestic violence, shelter in place and quarantine orders are terrifying. Home, for them, is often not a safe place to be. Abusers will use any tactic possible to yield power and control over their victims, even a pandemic.
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Isolation: Abusers can use this time to further isolate survivors from their loved ones. They may also use this as a time to further restrict a survivor’s movement in person, controlling where they go and when. They might also control a survivor’s interactions online, limiting their access to the outside world.
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Restricting Access to Information: Abusers may also restrict access to the news and other outlets, making themselves the source of all information.
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Increased Abuse: The abuse may worsen during this time as survivors may be spending more time in contact with their abusers. Survivors may also experience new or different types of abuse during this time.
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In-Person and Digital Stalking: Abusers might try to exert their power by trying to monitor, control and stalk survivors in person and digitally.
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Financial Abuse: Many individuals are experiencing financial burdens due to being unable to work, and abusers may further financially exploit survivors during this time.
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Parenting: Survivors who co-parent their children with their abusers may be facing unique challenges during these times, such as barriers to visitation and/or increased exposure to the abuser due to lack of accessible childcare. For example, in order for a survivor to work, he/she/they may need to utilize their abuser for childcare. -
Access to Services: Additional family stress, increased isolation and economic uncertainties add an accelerant to an already dangerous situation and make physically or emotionally abusive relationships much worse. Other community resources, such as faith based organizations, schools, courts and other non-profit organizations are scaling back services. Such networks of support would previously provide additional layers of help and accountability for families at risk for domestic violence. Victims of domestic violence have less resources for help, and feel more trapped.
On MSH
- Before the Coronavirus Pandemic, SC ranked #5 in the US for the number of deaths of women by men, up from #6. This number alone shows the critical need for our services in the Lowcountry.
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The federal grant, VOCA (Victims of Crime Act) has been reduced by 18% in 2020, cutting into critical services of shelter, counseling and advocacy for victims of domestic violence. -
The need for emergency domestic violence services will likely spike during and following COVID-19. Additional family stress, increased isolation and economic uncertainties are all contributing factors in the multi-faceted problem that is domestic violence. Other community resources, such as faith based organizations, schools, courts and other non-profit organizations help combat these issues with their services. In a time, when all businesses and non-profits are scaling back services, these resources may be limited or unavailbile increasing the need for MSH. -
When we cannot provide adequate social distancing and quarantine capacity and staffing in community living shelters, we have to provide resources for immediate health and safety for victims of domestic violence and their children via emergency hotel stays and provisions for food, transportation and other basic needs. -
Fundraisers held during this time are postponed indefinitely and/or cancelled. Overall giving, because of economic instability may be stalled or decreased. My Sister's House depends on these fundraisers and individual giving to not only fund regular budget operations, but also to shore up additional funding for 2021 decreased grant funding.
RESOURCES
All of the following resources are accessible, despite COVID-19.
Staying Safe
Avoiding public spaces and working remotely can help to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but for many survivors, staying home may not be the safest option. We know that any external factors that add stress and financial strain can negatively impact survivors and create circumstances where their safety is further compromised.
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Abusive partners may withhold necessary items, such as hand sanitizer or disinfectants.
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Abusive partners may share misinformation about the pandemic to control or frighten survivors, or to prevent them from seeking appropriate medical attention if they have symptoms.
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Abusive partners may withhold insurance cards, threaten to cancel insurance, or prevent survivors from seeking medical attention if they need it.
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Programs that serve survivors may be significantly impacted –- shelters may be full or may even stop intakes altogether. Survivors may also fear entering shelter because of being in close quarters with groups of people.
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Survivors who are older or have chronic heart or lung conditions may be at increased risk in public places where they would typically get support, like shelters, counseling centers, or courthouses.
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Travel restrictions may impact a survivor’s escape or safety plan – it may not be safe for them to use public transportation or to fly.
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An abusive partner may feel more justified and escalate their isolation tactics.
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“A chatter mentioned that the abuser was using the virus as a scare tactic to keep the survivor away from their kids.”
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"A chatter said the abuser was using COVID-19 as a scare tactic so that they would not visit family.”
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“A health professional still living with their abuser called and said they were physically abused that night because their abuser was sure they were trying to infect them with COVID-19.
Safety Tips From Survivors For Survivors
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Code Words: If you have children, decide how to communicate urgency. For example, when one survivor’s daughter was little, the survivor would open her arms and the daughter knew that meant to come running to her for safety. Some survivors also create a “code word” with their children that means they should go to the “safest room” in the home that you have already decided upon.
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Emergency Numbers: If for some reason you are not able to make emergency calls and you have children, give them the safety number(s), if they are old enough. Please see the Resources section listed below for some emergency phone numbers.
In Case of Emergency
Guides and Resources related to COVID-19
Mental Health
10 Tips for Staying Calm
12 Resources for COVID-19 Anxiety
Hotlines and Individual Support
MSH 24/7 Crisis Line
Support For Families
Talking To Children About Coronavirus
Local Healthcare and Essential Needs
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MUSC Health Virtual Urgent Care -
McLeod Telehealth -
Prisma Health Virtual Visit -
Roper St. Francis Healthcare Virtual Care -
Fetter Health Care
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Find free food locally via this interactive map! -
Charleston Local Resource Guide for COVID-19 - Charleston Moms -
Charleston United Covid Response - Facebook Group: This social media group is a volunteer community response team, whose purpose is to help manage requests for assistance and to share local resources that address essential needs during this COVID crisis.