October is the “Domestic Violence Awareness Month” in the United States. The El Monte Women’s Club in Los Angeles County held a gathering on Tuesday (22nd) with California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, representatives from the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, and the transitional housing project organization “Home Free” sharing their experiences and discussing how to better help the public, especially women, protect themselves from domestic violence.
The event was hosted by Cindy Wu, a member of the El Monte Women’s Club and Chairperson for the month. She introduced the guests at the gathering, highlighting California State Senator Susan Rubio, who is also a member of the club and has led legislative efforts in recent years to prevent domestic violence and provide assistance to its victims.
Several guests spoke at the event. Fiona Ma, who chaired the State Assembly’s Special Committee on Domestic Violence during her tenure as a State Assemblymember from 2006 to 2012, drafted multiple legislations, convened hearings to advocate for domestic violence victims, raised awareness in the community to prevent domestic violence, and provided shelters for victims and their children.
Ma mentioned that some female inmates as well as women who have fallen into drug addiction, suffer from depression, or are homeless, have been victims of domestic violence. “They have no family, some have no children, and some have no home.” After release, some of them, even without drug or alcohol problems, struggle to obtain identification, lack phones, credit cards, or savings accounts, and they all need the help of society.
Susan Bustamante, a domestic violence survivor who was released from prison, shared her story. Her husband, a Vietnam War veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder, abused her for six years. After confiding in her brother about her ordeal, unbeknownst to her, her brother had intentions to kill her husband, and she would be charged with aiding and abetting murder. She was convicted in 1987, sentenced to life in prison, and paroled in 2018.
Bustamante mentioned that many individuals face challenges post-release from California’s women’s prisons and desperately need assistance. She now relies on the “Home Free” program to help homeless women reintegrate into society. Bustamante expressed her deep gratitude to Fiona Ma for her efforts on behalf of released female inmates who committed crimes due to domestic violence.
“Home Free” was established in 2020 to provide supportive housing and skills training services for women who have experienced significant trauma from domestic violence and incarceration, aiding them in reintegrating into normal life.
Monique Juarez, a representative from the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and a community oversight worker, explained that the department is committed to seeking shelters, food banks, bill assistance programs, and various resources for those in need. They organize seminars on different topics and offer multilingual services.
Moreover, the department extends a helping hand to domestic violence victims in need by providing a 24/7 one-on-one hotline service at 800-854-7771; Los Angeles County residents can call anytime.
Juarez also said that even for issues unrelated to domestic violence, “we are here to help”; because life stress and anxiety may lead to problems or illnesses for individuals. She stated, “We want the community to know that we are here and ready to work at any time.”
Domestic violence takes on various forms, including physical harm, emotional abuse, control, sexual assault, financial control, or threats related to immigration status. A report from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) shows that over 10 million people in the US experience domestic violence annually. The National Domestic Violence Hotline receives over 20,000 calls for help daily. Intimate partner violence accounts for 15% of all violent crimes in the US.