Increasing Foreclosure Leading to Increase In Family Aggression

Statistics shows that increasing foreclosures is leading to increase in family aggression. Many hospitals are noting that they are treating double the number of battered babies than a year before. So too have deaths from violence spiked in many areas. The calls to hotlines dealing with domestic violence have also increased. Over half the callers are admitting that their financial problems have recently taken a turn for the worse.

Right across the country an alarming trend is showing up – the home is becoming unsafe with more incidents of violence. The ailing economy is largely to blame.

Alane Fagin of Child Abuse Prevention Services of Long Island said, “Our children and families are suffering. With more layoffs expected, the threat of foreclosure looming over so many and our savings disappearing, even the best parents can feel stressed out and overwhelmed.”

As yet no government data has come through and therefore the conclusions are drawn largely from anecdotal evidence. However the Child Welfare League of America (an amalgam of public and private bodies) has been working in tandem with the child welfare agencies of the state to find out if the numbers reflect the increase in domestic violence. Linda Spears the vice president said, “I think a lot of people are very concerned that we are in the early phases of this.”

The large majority (80%) of the officials who deal with law enforcement across the nation believe that the financial crisis is responsible for increase in child abuse and neglect of children. This is especially the view of top police officials in Los Angeles, Boston, Milwaukee and Philadelphia. They recently spoke of their views in a news conference at Washington.

Los Angeles Police Chief Bratton said, “Those of us on the front lines of law enforcement know that there is a correlation between economic distress and increased child abuse and neglect.”

It is unfortunate that at the critical juncture when the society and administration is becoming aware of the horrendous situation, the funds are drying up. The agencies dealing with this are starting to loose their teeth. It has become a vicious circle from foreclosures starting financial problems, the latter leading to violence and lack of funds.

Fagin said, “This period of time may well be our perfect storm: a struggling economy, an increase in stress and a decrease in funding of programs” said Alan Fagin, the advocate representing Long Island child abuse prevention.