Key takeaways:
Domestic violence financially strains survivors, making it harder to break free from the relationship.
Organizations like the National Network to End Domestic Violence can connect survivors to local shelters and programs for support.
Steps toward financial independence include learning how to budget and establishing good credit. The Allstate Foundation provides free resources that can help.
Domestic violence can make it difficult for a survivor to be able to leave and survive on their own financially. Often, the abuser controls the family’s finances and limits the survivor’s access to money.
If you or someone you know wants to break free from an abusive relationship, you will need financial support. Read on to learn about organizations that provide resources and steps you can take to achieve financial independence.
Where can DV survivors find financial resources and assistance?
Many organizations across the country provide support to domestic violence survivors and their loved ones, including financial resources. Here’s where to turn for help.
1. Allstate Foundation
The Allstate Foundation provides financial literacy tools for free to survivors and advocates. The organization’s goal is to help survivors achieve financial independence.
2. National Domestic Violence Hotline
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is staffed by caring and supportive advocates 24/7. These advocates will listen to your situation and sort through your options with you. They can also direct you to resources in your area like emergency financial aid or transitional housing. Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), chat live from a computer, or text START to 88788. All communication is confidential.
3. Salvation Army Domestic Abuse Assistance
The Salvation Army provides emergency relief, shelter, and counseling in cities around the country. The locations are kept confidential. Use the “find help” tool on their website or call the national headquarters at 1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769).
4. Love Is Respect
This organization offers counseling and help identifying the warning signs of abuse. Call 1-866-331-9474, chat live, or text LOVEIS to 22522. Someone is available 24/7 to help you connect to resources.
5. StrongHearts Native Helpline
StrongHearts offers culturally appropriate support to Native Americans and Alaska Natives experiencing domestic or sexual violence. The organization can help you find a local health facility or crisis center, refer you to a culturally sensitive provider, and develop a personalized safety plan with you. Call 1-844-762-8483 to speak to an advocate 24/7.
6. National Network to End Domestic Violence
The NNEDV has a list of state and U.S. territory organizations that offer help dealing with domestic violence. These organizations can connect you to local service providers and resources in your area. Visit NNEDV to find support near you. They also oversee WomensLaw.org, a service that provides free legal advice to any domestic violence survivor regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
7. Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network
RAINN works with over 1,000 sexual assault providers across the U.S. to connect survivors with resources. They also have a 24/7 National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), an online chat, and Safe Helpline at 1-877-995-5247 for members of the Department of Defense community.
8. Office for Victims of Crime
All states have an office that receives funds to help support victims of crime. To find out if you qualify for victim compensation, visit OVC and click on your state.
9. Local domestic violence shelter
DomesticShelters.org can help you find a shelter or program in your area. Enter your zip code or city in their search tool for a list of local resources.
10. Savvy Ladies
Savvy Ladies provides free financial education for women with classes and webinars. They can also connect you with a financial advisor to answer questions through their free helpline. Use their website to submit a question.
11. Dress for Success
Dress for Success empowers women through a support network, work clothes, and developmental strategies. Their goal is to help women achieve financial independence. The organization has local chapters across the country.
12. Her Voice
Her Voice’s mission is to end domestic violence by supporting women to get back on their feet with education and mentorship. To apply for a mentee role, you must be at least 21, have experienced abuse, and be separated from your abuser for at least 3 months.
13. Reachire
This program trains women who are returning to the workforce through coaching and mentoring. Reachire also offers resume counseling and leadership development programs.
14. Steps to End Domestic Violence
StepSVT offers many free services to help those leaving a domestic violence situation, including:
A 24/7 hotline at 1-802-658-1996
An encrypted, confidential chat line
Legal advocacy
Children’s programs
Support groups
Educational programs
Shelter and housing
How can domestic violence impact survivors financially?
Many survivors of domestic violence experience financial struggles like unemployment and housing instability. In fact, financial strain is one reason many people remain in volatile relationships. They fear being worse off on their own than staying with their abuser.
In some relationships, the abuser uses financial power and control over their victim. They may limit your access to money, prevent you from working, or put bills in your name that you can’t pay.
When a survivor leaves their abuser, the financial fallout can be devastating. Domestic violence survivors may struggle with:
Going back to the abuser because they can’t make it on their own financially
Remaining employed
Moving out of a disadvantaged neighborhood
Pursuing higher education or job training
Getting harassed at work by their abuser
Being stalked by their abuser and as a result are unable to work
Having debt and poor credit
Experiencing housing instability and homelessness
Breaking the cycle of domestic violence through financial support
Financial independence is the key to survival for many victims of domestic violence. It shifts the power within the relationship and gives survivors control over their fundamental needs like food, clothing, and shelter. It also paves the way toward control over their future.
Steps you can take to gain financial freedom include:
Developing a budget or learning more about money management
Learning your credit score and rebuilding and maintaining good credit
Saving money — if you’re still in an abusive relationship, you may have to save secretly or get a friend to hold funds for you
Gathering important documents like children’s birth certificates, social security cards, and bank account information
Getting a credit card in your name and staying out of credit card debt if possible
Asking community resources for help until you can get on your feet
The bottom line
Being in an abusive relationship can be financially devastating for a survivor. It can make it harder to leave the abuser. Survivors need financial resources to make it out safely and not return to their abusers. Many organizations can provide support and direct survivors to shelters and programs that can help, including the National Domestic Violence Hotline and DomesticShelters.org.
Why trust our experts?
References
Allstate Foundation. (n.d.). We provide resources to help end abuse.
Conner, D. H. (2014). Financial freedom: Women, money, and domestic abuse. William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice.
Domesticshelters.org. (n.d). Find a shelter or program near you.
Dress for Success. (n.d.). We economically empower women across the globe.
Her Voice. (n.d.). Mentors/mentees.
Love Is Respect. (n.d.). Need help now? Get in touch.
McLean, G., et al. (2017). The economic cost of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Institute for Women’s Policy Research.
National Domestic Violence Hotline. (n.d.). Here for you.
National Domestic Violence Hotline. (n.d.). Suze Orman’s financial empowerment tips for survivors of domestic violence.
National Institute of Justice. (2009). Economic distress and intimate partner violence.
National Network to End Domestic Violence. (n.d.). State & U.S. territory coalitions.
Office for Victims of Crime. (2023). Help for victims.
Peterson, S. (2022). The financial impacts of domestic violence. City of Philadelphia.
Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network. (n.d.). RAINN is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization.
Reachire. (n.d.). How we power business and diversify talent.
Savvy Ladies. (n.d.). Empowering women through financial knowledge.
Steps to End Domestic Violence. (n.d.). Anyone can be affected by domestic violence.
StrongHearts Native Helpline. (n.d.). Domestic and sexual violence is never okay.
The Salvation Army. (n.d.). Help for domestic abuse.
WomensLaw.org. (n.d.). Plain-language legal information for victims of abuse.
