Half of calls to Houston Area Women's Center on Thursday related to Dr. Christine Blasey Ford's testimony

Friday, September 28, 2018
Calls rise to sex assault hotlines during Kavanaugh hearing
ABC13's Chauncey Glover reports on the rise of calls to sex assault hotlines during the Kavanaugh hearing on Thursday.

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- No matter who you believe was telling the truth during Thursday's emotional Supreme Court confirmation hearing, there is good coming out of it.

As Dr. Christine Blasey Ford spoke, phones started ringing at sexual assault groups around the nation. Thousands of victims were all inspired to share their stories for the first time.

From the time Ford was sworn in, to Judge Brett Kavanaugh's final comments, the hearing lasted nine hours. And during that time, there was a 147 percent increase in calls to the National Sexual Assault Hotline.

In Houston, half of the calls to the Houston Area Women's Center were connected to Dr. Ford's testimony. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. So any victim can reach out when they're ready.

The Women's Center offers multiple resources to anyone who calls, ranging from just listening to them, to help finding new housing, or guidance through the legal process.

Male and female victims, as well as anyone who knows someone who was been assaulted, can call the hotline at 713-528-7373. For domestic violence-related help, you can call 713-528-2121.

Follow Chauncy Glover on Twitter and Facebook.