Anyone can be a victim of domestic violence.

But force a victim and their abuser to remain under the same roof 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the pandemic, the outcome may become deadly.

The Domestic Violence Service Center, which serves Carbon County, is still offering help even though Pennsylvania is under a stay-at-home order.

“During this unprecedented time of public health recommendations urging social distancing, self-quarantine and diligence in employing common-sense measures to prevent the spread of the disease, those experiencing domestic violence may face even more anxiety and new challenges to navigate,” said Jen Dotzel, outreach supervisor for the center.

“This will likely force victims and survivors to spend more time in close proximity with their abusers, increasing the risk to their safety and well-being during an already stressful time.”

Dotzel said that hotline calls are actually slightly lower than normal, and attributes that to survivors trying to make the best of things while being sheltered indoors.

“They might be weighing the risks of staying in a dangerous situation versus coming to a communal setting with people they feel might have the virus,” Dotzel said. “Less calls may signal that people experiencing domestic violence are having a harder time finding time alone to reach out for help. Victims are having to stay at home with their abusers, and their ability to call the hotline for help is limited.”

Those calls are expected to increase as social distancing orders are loosened and victims can separate themselves from abusers to be able to call the crisis hotline.

Domestic violence, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence website, “is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. The frequency and severity of domestic violence can vary dramatically; however, the one constant component of domestic violence is one partner’s consistent efforts to maintain power and control over the other.”

Dotzel believes the pandemic will only exacerbate this situation.

“Domestic Violence has no boundaries,” Dotzel said. “It affects people from every walk in life. We encourage victims to call us at any time, even if it’s just to talk about their situation.”

Services are free and confidential, and a counselor advocate staffs the hotline round the clock.

“You’re not going to get an answering service that will take your name and number and have someone call you back,” Dotzel said. “We are here to provide safety and options to those in need.

The center provides emergency shelter, safety planning, assistance with filing protection from abuse orders, civil legal services, and crisis counseling.

Call the crisis hotline is 570-823-7312 or 800-424-5600.