Create Emergency Fund for DV Survivors

I will create a charity that financially aids domestic abuse survivors who left their abusers. The charity will support payments

• to counselors specializing in post-abuse therapy and
• to cost of living expenses for up to 6 months after leaving the abuser (i.e. rent/deposit, utilities, vehicle expenses related to attending therapy and domestic violence groups, etc.)

By supporting survivors, the charity will prevent the survivor from returning to the abusive relationship due to financial reasons or lack of emotional support. Without therapy and money, many domestic abuse victims will return to their abusers.

I am Kellie Jo Holly, creator of verbalabusejournals.com and author of My Abusive Marriage...and what i'm doing in it. When I left my abuse-ridden marriage, I had no money, no job, and no insurance. By the grace of God, I found people to help me solve all three problems...eventually.

Victims who become survivors need financial support network as well as an emotional support network. Emotional support networks should include one-on-one counseling and group meetings with other domestic abuse survivors. 

Therapy goes a long way toward proving the survivor is capable of being the primary custodian of their children. Such counseling is needed because abusive partners often use the victim's mental health issues of Depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder against them in court, and the court often overlooks the fact that the abusive partner's behavior contributed to or caused those disorders.

Survivors also need a place to live and care for their children as they look for work. Without proper housing, a victim of domestic abuse jeopardizes their ability to retain custody of their children. Along those same lines, survivors need reliable transportation to take their children (and themselves) to doctor appointments and other necessary travels.

Either situation, lack of therapy or money, negatively affects abuse victims without children too. Many people do not have supportive families and who no longer have friends because their abuser effectively isolated them from anyone who would care to help.

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