In yet another sign of tough economic times, hotlines and shelters that serve battered women in Sacramento and across the country are reporting sharp increases in demand.

Requests for beds in safe houses and calls to crisis lines are on the rise in the capital city and elsewhere as families succumb to the stresses of job losses, foreclosures and evictions and other financial concerns, agency administrators say.

"Callers are telling us that changes in their financial situation are adding up to domestic violence," said Retha Fielding, a spokeswoman for the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The crisis line took 18 percent more calls through September of this year compared with the same period last year, and things have yet to slow down, Fielding said.

The agency got 20 percent more calls from Californians, she said. "We typically don't see these kinds of jumps."

Sacramento police and sheriff's spokesmen said the departments have not noted a significant increase in domestic violence calls. In fact, such calls within the city limits have dropped since last year, said police Sgt. Matt Young.

But organizations that offer counseling, shelter and other services for people fleeing domestic violence in the area said they are significantly busier than they were a year ago.

"Definitely we are seeing lots more stress on families in terms of being able to take care of basic things and pay their bills," said Nilda Valmores, director of My Sister's House, which mainly serves immigrant women in Sacramento who are dealing with domestic abuse. "It manifests itself in violence and abuse, especially in families that do not have a solid foundation of healthy relationships." About 18 percent more women are calling the agency's crisis line this year, and its six beds are almost always full, Valmores said.

The number of people seeking help and information on a Web site operated by Women Escaping a Violent Environment in Sacramento has jumped 61 percent in the past year, said development director Julie Bornhoeft. About 35 percent of the visitors are seeking specific information about topics such as the effects of domestic violence on children and what to do in response to a physical assault by a loved one, she said.

WEAVE's safe house, which has five bedrooms, has been full most nights for the past several months with each room often housing several families, said director Beth Hassett. Women are staying an average of 22 days, more than double the length of stay last year.

"Usually things ebb and flow, but not lately," Hassett said of traffic at the shelter.

A. Jonathan Porteus, a psychologist and clinical director at The Effort in Sacramento, which operates a crisis hotline, said financial problems tend to make people feel helpless and out of control.

"When economic stress hits a family or a relationship, violence is more likely to occur," Porteus said. "People feel like they are worthless. They question their value in life," and may ponder suicide or lash out at loved ones.

More than half of callers to The Effort's hotline these days mention economic burdens, he said.

"We're all asking ourselves, 'What is this economic crisis doing to our families, and what about the ones we never hear from, especially in under-served communities?" Valmores said.

WEAVE's counselors, said Hassett, are hearing from many women who have been pondering leaving an abusive spouse or partner but feel they are unable to do so now because of lost jobs or homes.

"They were positioning themselves to leave, but now they're feeling stuck," she said. "Our counselors are really worried about these people."

The upcoming holiday season complicates matters for women in abusive situations, Hassett said.

"People try to hold it together through the holidays, especially if they have kids," she said. "They are tempted to stick it out. We usually are very busy during the days right after a holiday."

The Sacramento Crisis Nursery is having trouble accommodating the number of infants whose parents need emergency respite, said director Sue Bonk.

"Right now I only have room for eight infants, and it's just not enough," Bonk said. "We're having to turn people away because we don't have enough cribs."

The economy likely is at least partially to blame, she said, "but we really are at a loss as to why this is occurring. We've been going for 13 years, and we've never seen so many infants."

Bonk has requested that licensing officials allow it to accommodate at least four more babies.

"It's terrible having to turn a family away," she said. "With the economy and the housing situation, things are only going to get worse. This is an emergency. It can't wait six months. It needs to be done now."

Call The Bee's Cynthia Hubert, (916) 321-1082.