Advocates who respond in person to the scene of the city's most troubling cases of violence against women will no longer be available between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., RTV6's Jack Rinehart reported.

When the program began three years ago through the Julian Center, advocates responded to two to three overnight calls a week.

Now the demand has grown to three to five calls a night, overwhelming the current staff.

Julian Center Executive Director Melissa Pershing stressed that services will still be available for women and children affected by domestic violence, but she said a key component will be missing.

"Just having the presence there and be able to look at the victim's face and say, 'Are you safe? Are you OK? Your children, how are they? Let me talk to you about what your services are here in the community.' It's immediate, and it's face to face. That's where we lose that," she said.

Services through the Julian Center will still be available by phone and at the shelter.

Domestic violence runs are up 12 percent this year over the same period last year, according to crime statistics.

"There are still services available and we continue to do everything we do here," Pershing said. "I hate it that we have to give up the program that has worked so well for us."