Help for Domestic Violence Survivors During Pandemic
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WWW.TRIANGLE TRIBUNE.COM Durham educators The Triangle focus on feeding students, families By Greg Childress RIBUNE THE POLICY WATCH T THE TRIANGLE’S CHOICE FOR THE BLACK VOICE The weather was unkind on March 23, the first day Durham Public Schools offered lunches to thousands of students forced VOLUME 22 NO. 14 WEEK OF APRIL 5, 2020 $1.00 to stay home due to COVID-19, the disease caused by the coro- navirus. Temperatures dipped into the mid-40s after a mild weekend, and a cold rain was heaviest between 10:30 a.m. and noon, when meals and educational materials are offered to fam- Hampton assistant ilies across the district. DPS spokesman William Sudderth said that district-wide, 5,571 coach earns lunches and an equal number of snacks were served on March prestigious honor 23 to 67 schools and community sites. At Southwest Elementary School, principal Nick Rotosky stood in a steady rain and di- rected traffic through the makeshift drive-thru lane set up at the rear of the school. Cafeteria workers bagged lunches of sand- wiches, fruit, milk and snacks. Teachers sifted through boxes of printed lesson materials searching for grade-appropriate learning resource packets to deliver with lunches. “A lot of people didn’t come for food,” Rotosky said. “They Please see DURHAM/2A Be Deaths careful expected with to stimulus continue check over By Matthew Goldberg virus BANKRATE.COM Many Americans might By Kate Martin be getting some needed fi- N.C. HEALTH NEWS nancial relief from the fed- It’s been a long two weeks eral government to help since Gov. Roy Cooper those who are struggling to closed all schools in the state Help for domestic and banned gatherings of stay afloat during the coro- navirus crisis. The $2 tril- more than 100 people due to lion economic stimulus the coronavirus pandemic. plan received a unanimous Restrictions have tightened Senate vote and the House violence survivors much more since then, with passed it last week. people now urged to stay President Donald Trump home except for the most es- signed the plan a day later. sential tasks and jobs, and A key provision of the plan asked to stay at least 6 feet includes getting up to during pandemic away from anyone else not in $1,200 direct payments their household. for eligible individuals, By Freda Freeman ficers want domestic violence Birkhead added: “The deputies Over 250,000 North Caro- $2,400 for qualified mar- CORRESPONDENT survivors to know they are not in our domestic violence unit lina workers have filed for alone and that there are serv- are specially trained to assist unemployment since March ried couples and also $500 DURHAM – For most people, ices available to help them. those in crisis. We’re here day 16, citing closures and lay- per child to many Ameri- home is a safe place. But that’s Durham County District At- and night to assist. If someone offs caused by the new coro- cans. not the case for victims of do- torney Satana Deberry said is being abused or witnesses navirus as the reason for Stretching those dollars mestic violence or child abuse, protecting victims of domestic abuse, they can reach out to us being out of work. Unem- during these uncertain especially during times when violence, sexual assault, and by calling 911 or our com- ployment checks for many economic times is the best they are forced to stay home child abuse is a top priority for munications center at (919) workers will go out this strategy. “I would be look- with their abuser. her office – now and always. 560-0900.” week, Cooper’s office has ing at ways that we can To decrease the spread of “During this time of social Although many court opera- said. buy ourselves some COVID-19, Durham is under a isolation for COVID-19, my of- tions are on a modified sched- As deaths continue to breathing space, some stay-at-home order, meaning fice is keenly aware that home ule during this time, mount across North Caro- margin,” said Charlie Bolo- residents are to practice social may not be the safest place for individuals experiencing do- lina, the nation and the gnino, owner of Side-by- distancing and not to leave everyone in our community. mestic or sexual violence can world, many people have Side Financial Planning LLC home except for food, health For victims of intimate partner still file for a domestic vio- just one question: When will in Plymouth, Minnesota. care, and essential jobs. The fi- Here are six tips about violence and child abuse, the lence protective order, and this end? Dr. Zack Moore, the nancial strain of not being able where to allocate this stress and confinement of this those who abuse their part- state epidemiologist, did not to go to work, being confined money and maximize these pandemic may make home a ners will be held accountable, have a comforting answer to the house with kids, who funds. dangerous place to be. We said law officials. Victims are Monday morning. “Every in- are bored and antsy because want you to know that we here urged to contact the Durham dication is we are really 1. Fund an emergency they’re not in school, while at the Durham County District Crisis Response Center for ramping up now, and we are savings account. If you worrying about your family’s Attorney’s Office remain here help. in the acceleration phase of can afford to do so, put health and safety could in- to help. It is our highest prior- “In pandemics such as the pandemic in North Caro- some of this money into an crease the likelihood of do- ity that we keep everyone safe COVID-19, isolation can be lina,” Moore said in a press emergency fund, whether mestic abuse. during this time,” she said. call. it’s an existing fund or one Local law enforcement of- Please see HELP/2A you’re starting from Durham Sheriff Clarence “We certainly have not scratch. “The first priority peaked. … You can look ac- is to pad your emergency ross the country and the savings,” said Greg world at the trends. We are McBride, CFA, Bankrate still on our way up.” chief financial analyst. The actions we take today “Even if the money isn’t will matter a great deal in the needed right away, having Pandemic leads to numerous weeks and months to come, it available if needed later said Dr. Mandy Cohen, secre- is a financial buffer and tary of the N.C. Department provides some peace of reports of price gouging of Health and Human Serv- mind.” ices. Her words were almost 2. Strategize before – she knew she needed to re- a plea. “In many ways, this is By Melissa Boughton like a war right here at home, spending. Before spend- THE POLICY WATCH port it, but she felt bad. Valen- ing any of the money, for- cia called the store owner at and the enemy is the virus,” mulate a plan, starting Just three days after Gov. A2Z Health Mart Pharmacy on Cohen said. “The only way with the necessities. As Bo- Roy Cooper declared a state of Archdale Drive and tried get a we can win and save as many lognino sees it, the first emergency in response to the return on the difference in lives as possible is if we … building block is making COVID-19 pandemic, Joannie price for what the items stay home.” sure your foundation is Valencia paid $42.90 for two should have cost. Ragni Gan- Humans do not have im- strong: You might need bottles of 70% isopropyl alco- dhi, the owner, offered her a munity to this virus, and an this cash for food, supplies hol at a mom and pop phar- full refund if she would return effective vaccine could be a and critical bills. If you can macy in Charlotte. She was in the alcohol to the store, saying year or more away. “There afford to and if need be, a panic. She had kids at home she would take the product are many things that are not save some of the money and had driven all over the city back, as she couldn’t find any within our control right now, for the weeks ahead and looking for any kind of disin- more to sell. and it’s really hard,” she said. the next round of bills. fectants to keep her family Valencia declined and sub- “Social distancing is the only 3. Make a new budget. safe, but her search had been mitted her bank statement to tool we have, so fewer No one knows how long it futile. Stein’s office as part of a price people get sick at the same will take for America to get She knew the price was high, gouging report. “It was just time. I can’t stress it enough. back to normal, which but she paid it. When in stock, taking advantage in a situation Photos of alleged price Your actions matter. Staying means you will want to the same 32-ounce bottles of like this,” she said. “If she got gouging were submitted by home matters. Staying home stretch your stimulus rubbing alcohol cost $1.99 a me, how many other people consumers to the North will save lives.” check as much as possible. piece at Target and $2.39 at Just two weeks ago, no- did she get?” Carolina Attorney General’s Having a budget is the best CVS.