The goals of the Harris County Health and Relationship Study (HCHR) were to 1) understand the impact of COVID-19 on DV and other types of harm and 2) assess needs and service experiences to enhance Harris County community service responses to DV to improve community recovery, safety, and wellness. Surveys were conducted with 446 Harris County residents and follow-up interviews were done with 48 survey participants. Results provide critical information about addressing the needs and experiences of people impacted by DV during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Download the Brief Report here.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges with deep impacts to the safety, stability, and wellness of Harris County residents, especially those impacted by domestic violence (DV). While we have early indicators from police reports and DV-focused professionals that the COVID-19 pandemic increased DV, we have not heard directly from DV survivors, partners using violence, and those at high risk for DV victimization and offending. To address this gap, The Center for Violence Prevention (CVP) at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) partnered with the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (HCDVCC) to examine the experiences of Harris County residents impacted by DV. The goals of the Harris County Health and Relationship Study (HCHR) were to 1) understand the impact of COVID-19 on DV and 2) assess needs and service experiences of Harris County residents impacted by DV to improve community recovery, safety, and wellness. To meet these goals, we conducted comprehensive online surveys with 446 Harris County residents impacted by DV, and follow-up interviews were done with 48 survey participants. Survey participants were 77.8% female-identified and 54% were recruited from DV-related community organizations.

Download the Executive Summary here.