Financial help

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-07-2003
Financial help
Sat, 01-15-2005 - 10:13am
I wanted to mention something I learned recently. This may have been posted before, but there are always new people. I work now at my local welfare office. I am thankful that when it was time for me to leave that I had a job and family that enabled me to have the finances to move, get an apartment, etc. I know that finances are often a big hurdle when leaving an abusive relationship. The welfare office does provide some assistance to victims of domestic violence. The shelters should make you aware of this, but I wanted to post it here in case anyone is putting off leaving or even calling a shelter because they think they can't afford it. You will not have a lot of money, but you can get some cash and food and medical insurance (this is the BIG one) for yourself and your children as well as help finding a job, paying for child care, filing for child support (if it doesn't put you in danger), paying for transportation, referrals to local housing assitance agencies, the salvation army (for free or very very low cost furniture). This is not a substitute for DV counseling, but an additional resource. Just make sure to tell your caseworker that you are a victim of DV so that they will keep your information especially safe. I know that I would never have wanted to apply for welfare, it is very stigmatized. People come in sometimes and they apologize for being there, say they aren't that kind of person who should be on welfare, etc. But it's there for those who need it and I say that to each of my clients. They helped my sister and her baby and if I'd had kids when I had to leave my ex, I'd have been there too. Best wishes to all of you.