THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF FOCUS THIS PAST WEEK IN MANY AREAS ABOUT PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. IN CLEVELAND, THE TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE ESCAPE OF THREE YOUNG WOMEN FROM THE SEYMOUR AVENUE HOME THAT WAS THEIR IMPRISONMENT FOR OVER 10 YEARS WAS REMEMBERED YESTERDAY.
WHAT MANY DO NOT REALIZE, AND I SEE IT EVERY DAY IN MANY FORMS, IS THAT MANY WOMEN ARE TRAPPED BECAUSE OF THE FINANCIAL CONTROL THAT IS IMPOSED UPON THEM BY THEIR CAPTORS, THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS, THEIR HUSBANDS, THEIR BOYFRIENDS, AND MORE. AND WHEN THEY ARE READY TO ESCAPE, MONEY IS THE ONE FEAR THAT MANY TIMES HOLDS THEM BACK: THERE IS THE FEAR OF HOW ARE THEY GOING TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.
LONG BEFORE I LEARNED OF THE ALLSTATE FOUNDATION AT PURPLEPURSE.COM, I HAD ADOPTED THE POWER OF THE PURSE AS PART OF MY PROGRAMS. THE ALLSTATE FOUNDATION WORKS TO HELP WOMEN RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS OF FINANCIAL ABUSE AND HELP WOMEN GAIN THE NEEDED KNOWLEDGE IN FINANCES TO BECOME INDEPENDENT FROM THESE SITUATIONS.
PART OF MY WORK IS WITH WOMEN WHO ARE PLANNING TO LEAVE ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS TO HELP THEM RECOGNIZE THE FINANCIAL PIECES THEY MUST PUT IN PLACE. THE SAD PART IS THAT MOST WOMEN WOULD NOT LABEL THIS AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR ABUSE, BUT IT IS, FOR MONEY HAS A ROLE IN EVERYTHING YOU DO IN YOUR LIFE.
IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO MAY BE EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL ABUSE AT THE HANDS OF A PARTNER, THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) MAY BE ABLE TO HELP.
