New shelter opens in Immokalee, for victims of human trafficking and domestic violence

The Sheller Stayer Shelter in Immokalee is now open to victims of human trafficking and domestic violence.

WELCOME BACK TO FOX 4 NEWS ATTEN, I’M JANE MONREAL.

PATRICKNOLAN JOINS US LIVE FROMDOWNTOWN FORT MYERS IN JUST AMOMENT.SINCE THE OUTBREAK OFCOVID-19... THE NUMBER OFDOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES HAVESKYROCKETED.

BUT TONIGHT WE’RELEARNING ABOUT A NEW SHELTER INIMMOKALEE FOR VICTIMS OF HUMANTRAFFICKING AND DOMESTICVIOLENCE.FOX 4’S LESLIE DELASBOUR SPOKEWITH ADVOCATES WHO SAY THISSHELTER COULD NOT HAVE COME AT ABETTER TIME.A NEW PLACE OF REFUGE HASARRIVED IN IMMOKALEE.

TODAY ARIBBON CUTTING HELD TO MARK THEOPENING OF "THE SHELLY STAYERSHELTER" FOR VICTIMS OF HUMANTRAFFICKING & DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.AUTHORITIES IN COLLIER COUNTYSAYS THERE HAVE BEEN OVER ATHOUSAND..

9-1-1 DOMESTICDISTURBANCE CALLS BETWEEN 2018-2019.THERE HAS ALSO BEEN A PEAK ININCIDENTS DURING THISPANDEMIC,BUT PANDEMIC,BUT CALLSTO THE HOTLINE HAVE DECREASEDand that makes sense the callshave decreased but close to 50percent.

Over the same time lastyear end really what that saysto us is that victims are not ina safe place to call our crisishotline when they are shelteringin place with their abuser.AFTER RESEARCHING AND SPEAKINGWITH VICTIMS OBERHAUS SAYS THEIMMOKALEE COMMUNITY WAS IN DIRENEED OF THIS SHELTERThere are families living inviolent situations, there arekids who are no longer in schoolwitnessing this violence that ishappening at home between theirparentsSHE SAYS THE NEW DOMESTICVIOLENCE SHELTER WILL OPERATEAROUND THE CLOCKOur 24-hour crisis hotline, ouroutreach offices for people inneed of safety planning andcounseling.

And of course outemergency shelter.

If ti comesto that and someone has no otherplace to go and they are livingin a violent situation, wereopen 24 hours a dayAND MEGAN DALABES WITH ABUSECOUNSELING AND TREATMENT IN FORTMYERS SAYS THE NUMBERS HAVE ALSOSPIKED IN LEE COUNTYjust in the last few days, therehave been over 50 arrests, inlee county and so we haveadvocates reaching out to see ifthey need helpAND IF YOU ARE ANYONE YOU KNOWIS IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS HEADTO OUR WEBSITE AT FOX 4 NO