Senator Thompson Teams Up With Haven House. "Raising domestic violence awareness and collecting unwanted cell phones."

For Immediate Release: September 2, 2009
Contact:   Heather Zeisz | zeisz@senate.state.ny.us | 716.854.8705

Buffalo, NY- New York State Senator Antoine M. Thompson (D-Parts of Erie & Niagara Counties) has begun collecting broken or unwanted cell phones for Child & Family Services’ Haven House.  These cell phones can help to change the life of a battered woman and her family.

“It is important to me to assist people in need and also raise domestic violence awareness.  Too many innocent victims are being hurt or killed by people that they once loved,” stated Senator Thompson.

In the last several months, at least thirteen women in Erie and Niagara Counties have been murdered and the accused are the men that they loved.  According to abuse victims advocates, these last nine months have been the worst for domestic violence since the early 1990’s.  Domestic violence is one of the most underreported crimes, however, Erie and Niagara County police still documented 10,450 domestic violence incidents in 2008 alone.  According to Erie County’s Central Police Services, since 2006, domestic violence incidents have elevated by more than 1,200 cases.

“We have several cell phone drop off locations to make donations easy for people,” said Senator Thompson.  “I’m looking forward to partnering with Haven House in the effort to help victims of domestic abuse.

The State Office of Criminal Justice Services compiled a list of intimate-partner homicides for 2008.  The figures for Upstate New York show 38 homicides in 2008 which is 27% higher than the figures from 2007.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), one in four women will be involved in an incident of domestic violence in her lifetime. Each year, women experience about 4.8 million intimate partner related physical assaults. Men are the victims of about 2.9 million intimate partner related physical assaults (United States Department of Justice and Centers for Disease Control). The NCADV reports that 85% of domestic violence victims are women.

Domestic violence does not discriminate. Its victims cross all socioeconomic, ethnic, racial, educational, age and religious lines. Women who are battered are rich, poor, middle-class, white, black, Hispanic, Native-American, Asian, doctors, lawyers, teachers, parents – there is no one characteristic that sets a battered woman apart from the rest of the population. In addition, studies have shown no link between personality type and being a victim (Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence).  Women are not the only victims of domestic violence. All people – heterosexual and homosexual, male and female – can be targets of abuse. In fact, domestic violence occurs at about the same rate in lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender relationships
as in heterosexual relationships (Zlotnik, David M., 1995).

Victims are often stuck in a position where they find it difficult to leave an abusive relationship.  There are many different reasons that victims give to stay; they fear that they, or their children, will be seriously injured or killed if they try to leave.  Women who leave their abusive partners are at a 75% greater risk of being killed than those who stay (NCADV).  However, there are several organizations, such as Haven House, that offer assistance with counseling, education, safe shelters and legal assistance.  The cycle of domestic abuse needs to end for all victims, please help in this effort and donate your unwanted or broken cell phones today.

“Haven House works with a company that gives us a “finder’s fee” for each phone that they receive from us.  They even accept very old or broken phones and phones without chargers.  The money that we receive for the phones provides us with undesignated revenue that we use to assist our clients with basic needs or relocation monies.  Your donation will be an important part of the services we provide,” said a Representative from Child & Family Services’ Haven House.   
If you or someone you know has a question or a problem that requires immediate attention, please call Child & Family Services’ Haven House 24-Hour Hotline at (716) 884-6000.  In an emergency, please call 911.

Drop Boxes

 
Hispanics United   
254 Virginia Street
Buffalo, NY 14201

William Emslie YMCA
585 William Street
Buffalo, NY 14206

Mahoney State Office Building
65 Court Street 1st Floor
Buffalo, NY 14202

Parkside Community Association
2318 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14214

Niagara Falls Library
1425 Main Street
Niagara Falls, NY 14305

City of Tonawanda City Hall
200 Niagara Street
Tonawanda, NY 14150
 

-30-