October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and a central Illinois advocacy agency is hosting a special vigil for victims and survivors of domestic violence tomorrow (Thursday) in Decatur.

Jennifer Tolladay with DeWitt County DOVE indicates tomorrow evening at  St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Decatur, they will be hosting Rachel Louise Snyder for a special presentation starting at 6 pm.

Tolladay indicates recent data from central Illinois shows domestic violence was significantly increased as of 2017. 

Tolladay says while there are laws to protect victims of domestic violence, many victims simply quit their jobs to avoid the embarrassment which turns into lost wages and benefits and then trickles down into lost possessions. She notes recent data shows that nearly 90 percent of homeless women ended up there from a domestic violence situation.