New Seattle phone line helps immigrant victims of domestic violence

Seattle is the first city in the nation to set up a toll-free number to connect immigrant and refugee domestic-violence victims to a social worker of their language and culture.

The help line, announced Wednesday, is called the "Peace in the Home" line. The city chose a toll-free number so Seattle residents could call even if they are out of town.

Domestic violence can be a big problem among immigrants, said Someireh Amirfaiz, the director of Refugee Women's Alliance.

Victims sometimes come from cultures where such violence is tolerated, she said, so they're unsure of what domestic violence is and that help is available.

And if victims do want help, they sometimes struggle to find someone to talk to in their language.

The number — 888-847-7205 — takes callers to a recording offering 14 languages.

They choose one and are routed to a local social worker who specializes in domestic violence.

"They know that when they call, someone in their own language is going to pick up the phone and say, 'I'm here for you and I'll walk with you side by side,' " said Amirfaiz.

Amirfaiz said many women who come to Seattle as refugees or immigrants don't know what legal assistance and other aid is available.

"The notion of domestic violence and that this is something that should not happen, in many refugee and immigrant populations, is a notion that is very unfamiliar," Amirfaiz said.

The very existence of the phone number will help educate some groups, she said.

Besides $6,000 to AT&T for the toll-free line, the city is spending about $10,000 to publicize the new number.

It will use non-English newspapers, posters and community groups to get the word out.

In 2007, 493 immigrants or refugees used city-funded programs for victims of domestic violence, according to a city news release.

Of roughly 600,000 Seattle residents, about 100,000 were born outside the United States, according to the mayor's office.

The line will offer help in 14 languages: Amarinya or Amharic, Japanese, Khmer, Lao, Mandarin, Romanian, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Tigrigna, Ukrainian and Vietnamese.

"Help can be very difficult to find, and we're trying to make it easier," said Mayor Greg Nickels, who announced the help line at a news conference.

Emily Heffter: 206-464-8246 or eheffter@seattletimes.com