For many, end-of-year holidays like Christmas and New Year’s Eve are a time of celebration, homecoming and joy. 

But for those coping with an abusive partner or family member, the stresses of the holiday season — financial pressure, free-flowing alcohol and increased time alone with partners — can exacerbate an already volatile situation. 

“While we don’t see an overall rise (in calls for help) for the month, we do see spikes right around Christmas and right around New Year’s,” said Emilee Whitehurst, president and CEO of the nonprofit Houston Area Women’s Center. 

The Houston Area Women’s Center is one of numerous organizations in Houston and surrounding counties that support victims of domestic violence. These groups provide a range of services, including emergency shelters for victims and hotlines that connect callers to trained advocates who can talk through safety planning in multiple languages. 

Below, the Houston Landing compiled a list of organizations and advocates that can provide assistance and support over the holidays. Those with confidential hotlines are listed first.

For those worried about potential violence, Whitehurst recommended creating a safety plan in advance of the holidays. This could involve creating a safe word and practicing an escape plan with children, or packing a bag in advance and hiding it in a safe place in case of violence. 

“Really just take the time to think about what has worked for you in the past,” Whitehurst said. “If you do need to leave, do you know where you would go? Do you know who you would go to, so that person is on alert?”

An advocate working in the digital services area is seen through a decorative wall at the National Domestic Violence Hotline center’s facility in 2016 in Austin. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Additional safety planning tips and strategies are available online through the Houston Area Women’s Center or the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Both organizations also operate hotlines that victims and survivors can call for help, including counseling, shelter services and personalized safety planning. These hotlines will be operating over the holidays. 

For the Houston Area Women’s Center, call 346-295-8994. For the National Domestic Violence Hotline, call 800-799-7233.  

Nathaniel Waldie, a Houston Police Department detective sergeant in the Major Assaults and Family Violence Division, said calling 911 can also be a way of connecting with help, including support outside of law enforcement. Responders will assist survivors in connecting with the vast network of resources available in the Houston area, including advocacy organizations that provide shelter and safety planning. In some circumstances, advocates are even available to assist on scene.

“Our main aspect with family violence-related crimes is (providing) resources,” said Waldie. “We don’t want (the situation) to escalate further.”

Waldie said the relationship doesn’t have to be physically violent for the Houston Police Department to help. 

“If you’re in a relationship and this relationship has a severe issue of dominance over one person … (that) limits your ability to seek independence, to speak for yourself. If you want to call the police, you can,” he said. “We will document that.” 

Additional lists of resources in the Houston area, including hotlines, counseling services and legal aid, are available online through the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council and Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse. 

Here is contact information for 11 organizations in Greater Houston, with notes identifying organizations that serve specific communities. 

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Clare Amari covers public safety for the Houston Landing. Clare previously worked as an investigative reporter for The Greenville News in South Carolina, where she reported on police use of force, gender-based...