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4 <br /> <br />issues, support the victims of domestic violence, and to connect advocates across the nation 1 <br />who are working to end domestic violence. 2 <br /> 3 <br />The Board of Commissioners is asked to proclaim October 2020 as "Domestic Violence 4 <br />Awareness Month" in Orange County to support victims of domestic violence, to educate 5 <br />residents, and support those working to end domestic violence. 6 <br /> 7 <br />Chair Rich introduced Valerie Sauer, Director of Community Education at the Compass 8 <br />Center in Chapel Hill, who read the resolution. 9 <br /> 10 <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 11 <br />PROCLAMATION 12 <br />DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH 2020 13 <br /> 14 <br />WHEREAS, domestic violence is a pattern of coercion and control in an intimate partner 15 <br />relationship where one person uses violence to gain power and control over their partner; and 16 <br /> 17 <br />WHEREAS, domestic violence includes not only physical, but also mental abuse, emotional 18 <br />abuse, financial abuse, isolation and sexual abuse; and 19 <br /> 20 <br />WHEREAS, individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of race, age, gender identity, or sexual 21 <br />orientation can experience abuse by an intimate partner; and 22 <br /> 23 <br />WHEREAS, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, on average nearly 24 <br />20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During 25 <br />one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men; and 26 <br /> 27 <br />WHEREAS, on a typical day there are 20,000 phone calls placed to domestic violence hotlines 28 <br />nationwide according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence; and 29 <br /> 30 <br />WHEREAS, in North Carolina, according to the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic 31 <br />Violence, at least 57 individuals were murdered as a result of domestic violence in 2019; and 32 <br /> 33 <br />WHEREAS, Compass Center for Women and Families, the state-designated domestic violence 34 <br />service provider for Orange County, served over 1,400 survivors of domestic violence through 35 <br />their 24-hour hotline, support groups, court advocacy, crisis counseling, Latinx services, and 36 <br />other services last year; and 37 <br /> 38 <br />WHEREAS, Compass Center has launched Safe Homes, New Lives - an innovative and 39 <br />compassionate new housing strategy that empowers victims of domestic violence, provides 40 <br />safety for them and their children, and keeps them in their community by providing scattered 41 <br />housing across Orange County to shelter victims and their families for up to 3 months; and 42 <br /> 43 <br />WHEREAS, prevention strategies involve collaborations by multiple partners to promote social 44 <br />norms, policies, and laws that support gender equity and foster intimate partnerships based on 45 <br />mutual respect, equality, and trust; 46 <br /> 47 <br />Now, therefore, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners, do hereby proclaim this 48 <br />time to be: 49 <br /> 50 <br />“Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2020” 51