Back to News & Commentary

I Was a Domestic Violence Victim. My Town Wanted Me Evicted for Calling 911.

Share This Page
September 11, 2015

This piece originally appeared on .

I remember the day I realized that I had to stop calling the police, no matter what danger I was in. It was 9 April 2012 when the police came to my home to arrest my ex-boyfriend, who had physically assaulted me.

When they were there, an officer told me I was 鈥渙n three strikes鈥. I had no idea what he was referring to, nor did he explain. 鈥淲e are gonna have your landlord evict you鈥 he added. Later, after I requested more information from the police department, I was told I was being punished for calling 911.

Norristown, Pennsylvania, where I live, had a local nuisance law that specifically said that calls about domestic violence would count as 鈥渟trikes鈥. Three would lead to eviction. I wanted to keep my home for me and my child 鈥 so I stopped calling the police, even when there was more domestic violence at my home. But I couldn鈥檛 stop other people calling 911. I received two more strikes from the city as a result of other people trying to help me.

To continue reading, please click .

Learn More 老澳门开奖结果 the Issues on This Page