The Domestic Violence Coalition in Van Buren County has been seeing an increase in abuse cases recently as it nears 30 years of service to the community.
Coalition Director Melanie Hooker tells us group statistics show that the organization provided free domestic violence and sexual assault services to 439 new clients with 1,276 contacts last year, a 27.8% increase from 2024.
“A lot of our clients come from referrals from law enforcement, from the courts, from other agencies surrounding us,” Hooker said. “They come here, we sit down with them, figure out what exactly they need.”
Hooker says the coalition is a nonprofit, based in Paw Paw, that provides a range of services. Last year, it helped victims obtain 277 personal protection orders, for example.
“We help to write them. We are the go-between for court, so we’ll take it over, give it to the judge. The judge gives it back to us when they sign it, and then we arrange process serving so that the victims don’t have to do that because in Michigan, it is on the victims to make sure their abuser is served. So we take that out of the picture and do that for them as well.”
Hooker says the Domestic Violence Coalition serves as the advocates for victims in domestic violence, stalking, human trafficking, and sexual assault cases. It even helps them get through court proceedings.
“We do court accompaniment. So we go to court with them, we sit with them at court, we arrange all their hearings, sit with them at sentencing, sometimes stand with them when they’re doing victim impact statements at sentencing.”
Hooker says the organization last year also helped 11 teens experiencing family violence in the home and donated 6,510 of volunteer time on the crisis line. Its staff are also trained in human trafficking.
“Recognizing, responding to — like, when they know that there’s a trafficking ring, for lack of a better word, we would go out with law enforcement and then immediately help the victims. And that would be sex trafficking and labor trafficking. In Van Buren County, we’re going to see a lot more labor trafficking than sex trafficking, but Benton Harbor has had a couple big stings recently, and there’s no services. So we’re hoping to be able to help with that.”
And the coalition serves male victims of domestic violence.
“We have quite a few males that we work with. Last year, most of them were female, but 93 were male victims with female abusers. And then in same-sex relationships, it’s like 68% more common in same-sex relationships. So we’ll see that as well. But we’re definitely seeing men who are being abused by women.”
So, how long does a client typically need the coalition’s help?
“If they’re feeling safe, sometimes they kind of drop off. On the other side, I’ve had a client that I’m still working with since 2011. So, a lot of times they just need that continued reassurance, that continued like support of, yes, you’re doing the right thing. Because domestic violence, there’s a lot of, for lack of a better word, brainwashing going on to where they just doubt every move they make for so long.”
The coalition has seen an increase in both the number and severity of domestic violence cases in recent years, which Hooker believes may be tied to the economy.
“Whenever we see a recession. Because I’ve been here 17 years. In 2008, 2009, 2010, in that area, our numbers were high as well because we were in a recession when people start having fear. And if you think about it, most happily married couples fight over finances. Well, when you’re not a happily married couple and finances start getting tight, yeah, we’re seeing a lot more of that. And I’m sure that has a lot to do with it.”
Hooker says the organization is also seeking a grant to become a regional human trafficking response center serving several counties in the region. It’s planning to hold an event in October to mark 30 years of service to the community, and will release more information to the public at that time.
You can learn more about the Domestic Violence Coalition right here.
