The Problem

According to The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), approximately one out of four women will experience some form of domestic violence during her lifetime. SAFE recognizes the need to address the economic factors that keep victims within abusive situations. According to a study funded by the U.S. Dept. of Justice, Family and Employment Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence “Recent intimate partner victimization does, indeed, show up as a risk factor for entering the labor force. Thus, it appears when compared to all who were violently victimized, those whose assaults were perpetrated by a partner are the most likely victims to seek employment after an assault. This is not surprising, given that they may need to find work as part of a strategy for becoming more independent of a violent partner.

SAFE’s community awareness initiatives increase the awareness of how domestic violence affects women on an economic level that is often overlooked. Abusers utilize power and control to restrict access to financial resources, which ultimately limits options for the abused to leave their abusive situation.