Why do we do the work we do?
We Strongly believe that nobody should have to experience domestic violence alone. We are here to provide advocacy services, resources, and support for anyone experiencing domestic violence in the community regardless of race, gender identity, socioeconomic status, ability, sexual orientation, and religion.
What is Domestic Violence?
Domestic Violence is a pattern of behaviors used to establish and maintain control over a family member, household member, or intimate partner. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), “domestic violence is an epidemic affecting individuals in every community, regardless of age, economic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, or nationality.
There are different forms of domestic violence, including:
Emotional abuse
Telling the victim that they can never do anything right
Making false accusations against the victim
Discouraging the victim from seeing friends/family
Embarrassing or shaming the victim
Controlling what the victim wears, eats, where they go, etc.
Using children as a threat
Psychological abuse
Intentionally scaring the person they are abusing
Controlling who the victim sees, where they go, or what they do
Stalking the victim either in person or through technology
Preventing the victim from making their own decisions
Pressuring the victim to use drugs or alcohol
Preventing the victim from working or attending school
Financial abuse
Controlling all the money spent in the household
Not allowing the victim to make money
Taking the victim’s money or refusing to give them money for expenses
Sexual abuse
Pressuring the victim to have sex when they don’t want to or to do things sexually that they are not comfortable with
Refusing to use protection when having sex or sabotaging birth control
Forcing the victim to have sex with others
Physical abuse
Slapping, punching, shoving, or any form of physical violence used by the abuser to scare or control the victim
Threatening to hurt or kill the victim’s friends, loved ones, or pets
Threatening the victim with guns, knives, or other weapons
Threatening to kill the victim and/or themselves
If you are experiencing any form of abuse, you don’t have to go through it alone. We are here to support you and connect you with the resources you need to find safety.
To learn more about crime victim rights in Minnesota go here.