PRESQUE ISLE — The number of victims who have sought help from the Hope and Justice Project in Aroostook County has increased over the past year, but more work needs to be done to protect elderly victims of abuse, agency officials said Monday.
Casey Faulkingham, prevention and training coordinator with the Hope and Justice Project in Presque Isle, said that the agency served approximately 1,200 individuals over the past year, an increase of 200 people over the approximately 1,000 in 2015. The majority were women, she said, but 10 percent were men, 8 percent were children and 6 percent were “later in life victims.”
She also said that the number of crisis line calls had increased nearly 50 percent over the past year, and the agency recorded a 20 percent increase in the number of emergency shelter bed nights.
Faulkingham said she did not know what contributed to the increase, but that some of it could be attributed to the fact that there are more staff members working at the agency.
“We have more people out there who are available to help the victims and get them access to the services available to them,” she said.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the organization has already hosted several events, including a musical event in Madawaska on Sept. 15 and a walk in Houlton Tuesday, Oct. 4.
On Oct. 14, Presque Isle will host its third annual “Walk It Up, Presque Isle” walk starting at noon at the Mark and Emily Turner Library. Participants who pre-register will receive an awareness T-shirt and will be provided lunch. In-person registration and T-shirt pick-up will begin at 11 a.m. as well as Story Time for young children. At noon, the walk will begin and at its conclusion, lunch will be served.
On Oct. 20, a “Sync It Up, Caribou!” event will take place at 7 p.m. at the Caribou Performing Arts Center. This event is a friendly lip sync and dance competition for a suggested donation of $5 at the door. Competitors of any age are encouraged to grab that fake microphone and dance like nobody’s watching.
The evening will also include special performances and tributes to those whose lives have been taken by domestic violence in Aroostook County. Competitors must fill out the online registration form with their song choice and must attend the dress rehearsal at 5 p.m. on the day of the event.
The Hope and Justice Project helps people affected by abuse and violence, whether it is in their family or in dating relationships, according to its website. They also educate members of the community so they can recognize the signs of domestic violence, and help repair the harm done by it.
Their central office is in Presque Isle, but there are branch offices in Houlton, Fort Kent and Madawaska. The organization also has a 24-hour, toll-free hotline victims of abuse can call, or those concerned about a friend or family member.
Services include support, emergency shelter, transitional housing, safety planning, and legal advocacy.
Faulkingham said that drug and alcohol abuse has “certainly impacted” the number of people who have sought help through the Hope and Justice Project this year.
“Drug and alcohol abuse don’t cause domestic violence, but they certainly exacerbate it,” she said. “It makes the situation a lot more dangerous.
While the agency has been helping more people this year, Faulkingham said she would like to see more resources, including more staff members, to help victims of elder abuse as well as children.
“We are seeing more cases of older people being abused,” she said. “It is certainly sad and needs to be addressed.”
