According to women's shelter Providence House, the number of domestic violence cases is getting worse in our area. There's been a 30 percent increase in women and children seeking the house for safety. One of those individuals, who only wants to be known as Michele, recently left the home to start a new life. She and her children suffered abuse by the hands of her now ex-husband and feared for her life. She decided to leave her husband after he struck their daughter.

"He had ended up hitting her on her arm, and he left a big bruise on her arm," she said. "He said something to her about it, and he said, he told her I bet you won't do that again."

Providence House took Michele and her daughters in and gave them safety, shelter and hope.

"We operate the 24 hour crisis line in the area," spokesperson Laura Purdue said. "It's always staffed. In addition to that, we the safe house. we have a full array of counseling services."

Purdue says both women or men suffering abuse will always have a place at the organization. She says if you feel any threat of or are being abused to call the crisis line.

"He or she is limiting who you can see, how much money you can have. If you are turning over your paycheck," Purdue said. "If you are constantly being questioned about where you're going and who you're going to be with. Then that escalates into name calling and degradation. Those are warning signs."

Those are signs Michele will probably teach her daughters. She says she doesn't want them to face domestic abuse.

"I want them to learn that it's not okay," she said. "You know, for someone who says that they love you to hit you. You know, it's not okay. You don't have to stick around for that."

Michele is currently working on her GED and has a place of her own for she and her daughters. If you or anyone you know is suffering from abuse, you are urged to call the crisis line at 318-226-5015.