Domestic Violence in the Ozarks
Domestic abuse is in the spotlight after allegations surfaced of domestic violence involving NFL players.
But here in the Ozarks, the issue of domestic violence isn’t new - it’s something the community has been fighting for years.
The Harmony House in Springfield is the areas only shelter specifically for victims of domestic abuse. At the shelter women have a safe place to stay. There is a problem though - there simply isn’t enough room. Last year the shelter had to turn away 1,600 women.
Nationwide one in every four women will experience domestic abuse. It’s so common that about every nine seconds a woman is beaten.
In Springfield more than 50% of aggravated assaults are domestic.