By Menda Eulenfeld, STCN

“I have been in two domestic violence relationships, one right after the other, and unfortunately this is not an uncommon thing.”

This was the opening remark from Meagan Jackson, Community Educator at the Purple Door, during the “Stop the Silence, Stop the Violence” luncheon on Thursday, October 5, 2023.

The luncheon, held at First Baptist Church in Kingsville, was a fundraiser for the End Domestic Violence Task Force (End DV) to raise funds for their hotel voucher program.

In partnership with the Kingsville Police Department (KPD), the hotel voucher program is used when individuals need to be placed in emergency shelter after domestic violence is suspected.

This is especially helpful during after-hours and, on the weekends, when The Purple Door, formerly the Women's Shelter of South Texas, is not available.

In 2021, the Texas Health and Human Services Texas Family Violence Program declined 39%  of hotline calls for emergency shelter due to lack of space.

“Every day I didn't know what was going to happen,” Jackson continued, “and what's so crazy is I still felt like it was my fault.”

According to a survey by DomesticShelters.org, it takes an average of 6.3 times for a survivor to leave for good. There are a variety of reasons victims do not leave their abusers right away. In the survey, some responses noted that financial concerns, separation anxiety, and the fear of the unknown were major factors. Some even believe that it is just a “phase” and that if the victim would behave in another way, the abuse would stop.

Jackson said that she was able to leave when a friend offered a place for her to stay. “I am thankful for her every day because I don't know if I would have been able to leave if I didn't have that option.”

When a voucher is used, a copy is sent to the Purple Door so they can contact the individual to assist them with local resources.

Jackson concluded her remarks by saying, “I want everybody to realize that you don't have to settle for somebody that is not meeting your needs. You don't have to settle for somebody that is being disrespectful, that is being abusive, because it's just not worth it.”

For more information, visit End Domestic Violence Task Force at firstkingsville.org/edvtaskforce.