“Domestic violence is a growing problem across the country,” said Kirstin Eismin, shelter manager for the YWCA House of Peace shelter in Clermont County.  “Our shelter for victims of abuse is at capacity, and our abuse hotline (that also serves Brown and Adams counties) had over 500 phone calls for assistance last month.  Compare that to 300 calls only two months previously.”

Eismin said that part of the increase for assistance can be attributed to the struggling economy and how some have reacted to the pressure, but she believes that more women are realizing that they can get out of the abusive situation and are reaching out for help.