Reframing intimate partner violence as a systemic economic issue using data

COVID-19 has shone a light on intimate partner violence in the U.S., leaving many asking, "What can we do?" During this talk, we will share findings from FreeFrom's new report titled, Survivors Knows Best: How to Disrupt Intimate Partner Violence During COVID-19 and Beyond, highlighting what we've learned from 1,100 survivors across 36 states and Puerto Rico who applied for cash support through FreeFrom's Safety Fund during COVID-19. We will walk attendees through the economic impact of experiencing harm, how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated abuse, and what type of support survivors say they need now and moving forward. We all must do our part to disrupt the cycle of IPV, and our talk offers a blueprint for what an ecosystem of impactful support for survivors can and should look like. From religious organizations, to banks, credit card companies, employers, and health insurance companies, we demonstrate how every pillar of our society can show up for survivors and support their financial security. COVID-19 is disproportionately impacting survivors, but it didn't cause IPV. If we don't listen to survivors and act now, COVID-19 will come and go and survivors will remain trapped.
Key findings from the report include:
*$730: is the average $ amount survivors say these need right now in order to stay safe
-Survivors' top 3 needs: Cash to spend as they need (64%), Utility bill relief (41%), and Credit/debt relief (35%);
*$1,280: the average $ amount survivors report that harm-doers steal from them each month
*$15,936: the average $ amount survivors say their harm-doer takes out in coerced and/or fraudulent debt in their name each year
*Main impacts of COVID-19: escalating abuse, survivors struggling to afford to stay safe and/or having no choice but to return, and increased financial abuse, particularly around stimulus checks and other COVID-related assistance.