Community & Public Health

Fresno County has one of the highest rates of domestic violence. How survivors can get help — and how to help the helpers

The story was originally published by fresnoland as part of larger series, with support from our 2024 Domestic Violence Impact Fund.

Person seated on a yellow chair

Carolynn Hatch works as a assistant program manager at the CrossRoads program in Evangel Home. 

Gisselle Medina | Fresnoland

December 19, 2024

Warning: This story includes accounts of domestic violence, child abuse, substance addiction, and discussions of mental health challenges.

What's at stake:

Dozens of local organizations and domestic violence survivors in Fresno County work to fill critical resource gaps but still face growing demand, chronic underfunding, and systemic barriers that hinder their ability to fully support survivors.

 

Carolynn Hatch’s mother once jokingly crowned her the “queen of free resources” as Hatch navigated a patchwork of domestic violence services throughout Fresno County, her life shaped for decades by the trauma of two abusive marriages.

Hatch struggled to provide for her three children during her first marriage. She worked long nights as a dancer, relied on methamphetamine to stay awake, and lost her children to CPS after a caregiver physically abused her son. She then met her second husband, and the abuse escalated to the point where she landed in the hospital with severe injuries, leading to the loss of two more children to CPS.

Hatch received a range of resources from local nonprofits, including shelter, food assistance, emotional and spiritual support through night chapels, substance abuse counseling, and life skills classes to support her goals of sobriety, stable employment, and maintaining a connection with her children.

At some shelters and nonprofits, instead of feeling supported, she felt like just another person being processed—moving from one task to the next without any real connection or personal support. In many ways, Hatch felt like she was on her own.

Once she landed at Evangel Home, a faith-based organization supporting women and children in crisis, it not only helped her reconnect with God but also supported her in returning to school, getting sober, and finding the resources she needed to heal.

“Nobody’s ever turned me away and told me, ‘no,’ said Hatch. “But once I started attending Evangel Home’s spiritual programs, I finally felt like I could trust people and began to open up and heal. I was able to get sober and get my life back on track.”

Hatch’s story highlights a harsh reality in Fresno County: the demand for domestic violence services far exceeds available resources, leaving survivors without personalized or sufficient care as the community struggles to address a high volume of cases — one of the highest in California — with limited support.

While there isn’t a precise way to determine the number of domestic violence survivors, due at least in significant part to chronic underreporting, the Marjaree Mason Center—the only dedicated domestic violence agency in Fresno—and local law enforcement leadership rely on law enforcement call data to measure the scope of the issue. Fresno County has the highest per capita rate of domestic violence calls to law enforcement among California’s 10 largest counties, according to the California Department of Justice.

The growing need for domestic violence services, its systematic challenges — and why 

An average of 24 people per minute are survivors of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States — more than 12 million people over the course of a single year, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

In Fresno County, law enforcement received 12,302 domestic violence reports from Jan. 1, 2023, to June 29 of this year. Cisgender women made up the largest group of survivors, with 19,817 cases, while cisgender men accounted for 19,206 cases as suspects. Apart from the dashboard, the Marjaree Mason Center handles around 800 to 900 calls from survivors each month.

The dashboard, which updates quarterly one month after the end of each quarter, is set for its next update in January 2025. According to Fresno County sheriff’s Sgt. Lindsay Kitchens of the domestic violence unit, the numbers are expected to continue rising.

In an email to Fresnoland, Kitchens said that the dashboard is used to identify patterns in domestic violence reports, such as higher rates on weekends when people are home together. The data also highlights related offenses, including child abuse and restraining order violations. 

“This information is impactful because it paints a clear picture of how complex domestic violence can be, showing that it doesn’t discriminate, comes in several forms, and can happen to anyone,” Kitchens said.  

The agency’s partnership with the Marjaree Mason Center also involves one of the center’s victim advocates working directly within their offices alongside domestic violence detectives. 

This partnership ensures immediate access to resources for survivors, including the ability to review reports, offer in-person support, and guide survivors through legal processes such as protection orders. If a survivor requests shelter at the MMC, patrol officers and detectives can coordinate directly to secure accommodations for the survivor and their children.

During the 2023-2024 fiscal year, the MMC served 8,492 individuals, according to an email statement shared with Fresnoland by Ashlee Wolf, director of philanthropy and communication.

The total number of people served last year increased by only about 1%, which Wolf said is “a positive sign, as the increase the year prior was 11%.” 

Yet, Wolf said, if looking at crisis response or emergency shelter only, the center’s crisis response 24/7 hotline calls increased by 50% and nights of emergency shelter increased by 15%.

MMC has 40 family rooms for emergency shelter. These rooms are referred to as “family rooms,” not because occupants must be part of a family, but to ensure households are not combined for safety reasons.

“We’re constantly having people over and above that amount that need emergency shelter, but we don’t even get enough government grants to pay for the cost of running the crisis hotline and the emergency shelter on an annual basis,” said Nicole Linder, executive director of MMC. “So we need donations in order to, at minimum, cover those basic costs.”

Fresnoland spoke with 15 organization leaders from various local nonprofits and churches that provide housing, housing assistance, or other resources for domestic violence survivors. All, except Evangel Home, reported consistently operating at full capacity. 

Every leader expressed a need for more funding than they currently receive, citing the lack of state and local funding as a systemic barrier for survivors to access the necessary resources in Fresno County. 

In California, the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding supports a range of critical services for crime survivors, including domestic violence programs, rape crisis centers, legal assistance, human trafficking services, and resources to address survivor homelessness. However, in recent years, the fund’s balance has sharply declined, and Congress has reduced the amount distributed.  

To mitigate the impact of these reductions, the Fresno City Council allocated $300,000 earlier this year to the MMC. The organization, which is currently fundraising for a new non-residential services location in northwest Fresno set to open next month, also received $75,000 from the city in October and an additional $300,000 in September for its emergency response and safe housing programs.

This year, MMC is projecting an annual budget of over $10 million, with 60% of funding from grants and 40% from private contributors. 

“Our government grants have not kept up with the increase in minimum wage, inflation, or the growing volume of demand we are experiencing,” said Linder. 

The demand for the limited shelter and housing available to domestic violence survivors has been further strained as Fresno’s anti-encampment ordinance enters its fourth month of enforcement, with violators facing criminal penalties such as fines and jail time. At the same time, homelessness—particularly among unsheltered individuals—continues to rise in the area.  

Staff at MMC noticed an immediate impact of the ordinance when the sheriff’s office dropped off a family at the drop-in center in the middle of the night after clearing an encampment.

Other nonprofit leaders said the ordinance can strain domestic violence resources and shelters by limiting safe housing options for survivors, particularly as available shelter space is reduced and displaced individuals face increased barriers to accessing support services.

Linder explained that while the MMC can’t meet all emergency or long-term shelter needs for unhoused individuals, the 24-hour facility often has people seeking shelter who are not experiencing domestic violence. In these cases, they rely on close partnerships with other organizations to ensure warm handoffs and referrals for those needing housing and other resources. 

How Marjaree Mason Center and other organizations partner together 

The MMC works closely with a network of local organizations, churches, and schools to provide emergency shelters, counseling services, legal aid, medical care, support groups, hotlines, and advocacy programs for domestic violence survivors across Fresno County. 

Purple sign surrounded by grass

Marjaree Mason Center is the only domestic violence agency in Fresno. 

Gisselle Medina | Fresnoland

This is because various nonprofits offer specialized resources for specific groups, yet all have seen how domestic violence survivors are deeply connected to the services they provide. For example, Central Valley Justice Coalition provides human trafficking support, RH Community Builders offers housing and mental health services, and Fresno Mission runs Christ-centered residential programs with classes on life skills, parenting, and addiction recovery.

Fresno Mission refers survivors to MMC’s classes or connects them with their legal department to provide additional services specifically for domestic violence survivors.

“Just like the Marjaree Mason Center, we want them to know their value, that they have a voice, and that what has happened to them was not their fault,” said Pricilla Robbins, chief ministry officer at the Fresno Mission. “It’s important for them to come to us, but building trust with survivors takes time, especially when multiple organizations may be involved.” 

Building trust involves staff being trauma-informed, which, Robbins said, means using gentle language, knowing when to push, and respecting when someone isn’t ready to confront difficult truths.

“We don’t tell survivors they are victims; through classes on topics like boundaries and life skills, they often come to this realization on their own,” said Robbins. “Once they do, we provide support, helping them navigate the emotional process at their own pace. Ultimately, our goal is for them to understand that they deserve love and respect.”

Through community partnerships, organizations are finding innovative ways to expand their resources to maximize impact. In 2023, Fresno Mission launched the “City Center,” uniting 10 organizations under one roof to address critical needs such as food insecurity, youth services, human trafficking, and mental health—resources that are also essential for supporting domestic violence survivors.

One organization under City Center’s new roof is Centro La Familia Advocacy Services, which offers a broad range of programs designed to assist crime survivors and support families. 

Currently, domestic violence survivors make up the majority of Centro La Familia’s victim advocate caseload. In the first quarter of 2023, there were 93 new domestic violence cases, compared to 231 during all of 2022. Additionally, there were 621 carryover cases in the first quarter of 2023.

Kendy Villa, an advocate in the victim services department, said her primary role is to have conversations with survivors about what domestic violence can look like. This helps survivors self-identify, connect with resources, and seek support from other local community-based organizations if needed.

“Some of the cultures or communities that we’re working with come from countries or nations where there’s a lot of distrust in social services, the government, and in just obtaining hope and that in itself is a barrier,” said Villa.

This approach, which fosters trust through community partnerships, is crucial for overcoming the barriers that survivors from diverse cultural backgrounds face. The “doors open policy—come if you need it,” Hatch said, also helps narrow the gap between Fresno County’s growing demand for domestic violence resources and the support currently available.

While at Evangel Home, Hatch recognized the depth of her addiction and decided she needed more intensive care through an inpatient program. With case management support from Evangel Home, she was connected to Fresno Mission’s Rescue the Children program, where she graduated in 2020.

Brown 'Evangel Home' sign in front of a building

Evangel Home, located in Fresno, serves women and children in crisis. 

Gisselle Medina | Fresnoland

During her journey through domestic violence services, Hatch also completed the 9 month residential program called CrossRoads at Evangel Home, learned about basic living skills, parenting, boundary setting, finances, and Bible study. 

She met a volunteer who offered support and became her sponsor, inspiring her to work at Evangel Home and help other survivors in turn.

After her program completion, Hatch became the assistant program manager at the CrossRoads program and helps oversee women in the transitional phase called Community Connections, a one year program where women focus on schooling and job searching, where she helps run the nine-month residential program. 

How religious and cultural challenges create more barriers for survivors in Fresno County 

Since 1995, Ruby has held various roles at Evangel Home, where she’s dedicated herself to educating women about domestic violence, recognizing the red and green flags of both healthy and unhealthy relationships, understanding the psychological signs of violent behavior, and identifying harmful patterns. 

It wasn’t until years after she began teaching these classes that Ruby realized she, too, was a survivor. 

Ruby, who asked to be identified only by her first name out of fear of repercussions, held her wedding ceremony at Evangel Home—the same place where she found a supportive Christian community that guided and encouraged her as she navigated the challenges of divorce.

“They was going to speak faith in me, spiritual to me, and even if it seemed harsh, I accepted it because they probably was telling me the truth,” said Ruby. “I was young, so I’m gonna always learn something from older people, because I always feel older people have wisdom, and wisdom is knowledge.”

Ruby began attending a local Apostolic church but didn’t feel the same level of support she experienced at Evangel Home. Coming from a Baptist background, she found the church not only unfamiliar but also strict in its customs and traditions, including a firm stance against divorce.

Ruby felt singled out as a single parent in church, and while members didn’t openly say anything, their actions made it clear. The church didn’t address domestic violence in their women support group, leaving Ruby feeling unsupported and unwilling to seek help from the church itself, as the topic was never discussed.

The lack of support from trusted religious community members often leaves survivors like Ruby struggling to reconcile their right to leave an abusive marriage with the belief that they must stay due to religious or communal expectations. 

The church is often the first place people turn to in times of crisis, whether they are religious or not, because many people view churches as safe havens, said Chandler Marquez, director of communications for the Diocese of Fresno.

About a dozen individuals in crisis—many dealing with domestic violence—seek help at the Diocese’s churches each week. 

The MMC provides resource documents for pastors and church staff, outlining what to say—and what not to say—to help survivors feel empowered, safe, and informed about available options in Fresno County. 

“We never want somebody to go to the person they potentially trust most in this world—the one they see as closest to God and their connection to God on Earth and only have that person say, ‘keep suffering,’” said Wolf. “We really try to work together to ensure that we’re providing our priests, pastors, and others in positions of trust with the tools to respond in a way that makes the person feel safe, supported, and aware of a path forward—not just a dead end.”

During October’s National Domestic Violence Awareness month, MMC hosted community presentations open for anyone interested in learning about domestic violence and resources offered at MMC. On Oct. 16, a staff member talked about how abusers can use religion as a way to “brainwash the victim into thinking certain scriptures mean that they must submit to their abuser, or that divorce is wrong, to try to get their victim to stay under their control.”

Scripture, Wolf said, can be a helpful tool, but can be misunderstood at times and “also be used as a weapon like anything else.”

“I think that’s why it is so important that people feel comfortable going to their priests, going to their pastor, because these are people that have devoted their life to God, into the Bible and can really provide deeper insight to something that they might not be able to see themselves,” said Wolf.

In the community presentation, MMC also addressed cultural abuse, which can include restricting survivors from speaking their native language or participating in cultural holidays, among other forms of abuse.

Many survivors, particularly women in marriages, Villa said, often feel trapped and unable to leave due to societal, cultural, or religious pressures that emphasize the sanctity of marriage. Some women also experience coercion within their marriages, feeling forced to have sex with their husbands because they are made to believe it is their marital duty. 

Survivors can feel compelled to stay, fearing judgment, financial instability, or lack of support from their communities. 

“Close relationships may use facets of religion or culture to convince someone that harmful behavior is acceptable, and it takes time to unravel that and get to the root of the situation,” said Ashley Flowers, the public information officer. “We’re only here to say that your culture and your religion should make you feel good. It shouldn’t be used against you in this way.”

Villa said that having someone who listens, relates, and offers guidance can help them leave, end the relationship or navigate safety within it.

What is Domestic Violence and how can you identify it? Resource box:

Domestic violence (also referred to as intimate partner violence (IPV), dating abuse, or relationship abuse) is a pattern of behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner in an intimate relationship.

Domestic violence doesn’t discriminate. People of any race, age, gender, sexuality, religion, education level, or economic status can be a victim — or perpetrator — of domestic violence. That includes behaviors that physically harm, intimidate, manipulate, or control a partner or otherwise force them to behave in ways they don’t want to. This can happen through physical violence, threats, emotional abuse, or financial control.

A catalog of other resources can be found on the National Domestic Violence Hotline website. 

Domestic Violence Resources box:

Each local organization offers essential services to survivors of sexual and physical abuse, domestic violence, and those who witness abuse. Some are specifically dedicated to certain populations, such as women, or offer specialized services for specific needs.

Fresno Organizations: 

Fresno County Services:

California Services:

To reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline, text “start” to 88788 or calling 800-799-SAFE (7233) or go to thehotline.org. The Department of Health and Human Services has also compiled a list of organizations by state.

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Domestic Violence