DeBary proclaims October Domestic Violence Awareness Month; local shelter planning 12 new rooms

Mayor Karen Chazet read a proclamation declaring October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in DeBary and acknowledged the Domestic Abuse Council of Volusia County's ongoing work supporting survivors.

The proclamation noted Volusia County ranks fourth in Florida for reported domestic-violence incidents and praised the Domestic Abuse Council (DAC) as the county's certified domestic-abuse organization. "We acknowledge the resilience and the courage of survivors of domestic violence and stand in solidarity with them," Chazet read.

Buck James, CEO of the Domestic Abuse Council, told council the shelter is preparing to open 12 additional rooms within about a month and is beginning plans for traditional transitional housing on its property to increase long-term capacity. "We're getting ready to open up an additional 12 rooms within about a month... we have plans, beginning plans, to add some traditional transitional housing on our property as well to increase that capacity," James said.

Council members and DAC representatives noted ongoing limits in bed availability countywide and said expanding capacity is a priority. Amanda Weston, immediate past chair of the DAC, joined James at the podium.

The mayor noted that DeBary has one of the lowest overall crime rates in the county but that domestic-violence reports still appear in CompStat and that a strong clearance rate does not eliminate community harm. The city presented the proclamation to recognize awareness and encourage community support for survivors and service providers.