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Domestic Violence Haunts Victims Year-round

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Contributed by: Nicole Alley on 10/8/2008

Domestic violence is an affliction that grips its victims with shame and sorrow, relinquishing hope to the reality of survival. According to the U.S. Department of Justice and Centers for Disease Control, nearly 25 percent of women report being abused by a husband or partner in their lifetimes. Even more staggering, approximately three-out-of-four Americans personally know someone who is or has been a victim of domestic and economic abuse. While October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the issue is prevalent and impacts millions of Americans each day of the year.

Many people don't associate financial abuse with domestic violence, although it is often an underlying tactic of abusers. Whether it's prohibiting victims from establishing credit, purposely destroying credit, stopping them from getting a job, or not exposing them to financial situations, abusers are trapping women - making it very difficult to leave. Women are apprehensive to flee an abusive relationship if they don't understand their finances, or don't have any financial means (supported by abuser) for the children and themselves. The current financial crisis plaguing American households further deters a person's ability to leave an abusive relationship.

The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program was created to provide knowledge and skills - particularly those related to financial security and economic empowerment - to support survivors of domestic violence. The following are examples of economic abuse:
• Controlling victims' paychecks and bank accounts, and determining how they spend money, where they work and what property they buy;
• Using victims' credit cards without permission and destroying their credit rating;
• Putting all financial contracts (lease, credit cards, utilities, etc.) in a victim's name and then failing to make payments, destroying the victim's credit rating;
• Forcing low-income victims or victims with disabilities to turn over government benefit payments;
• Undermining victims' opportunities to become economically independent by not allowing them to work, forcing them to work in family businesses for little or no pay, or calling and harassing them in the workplace to such an extent that they lose their jobs;
• Refusing to pay spousal or child support to a survivor who has left an abusive partner; and
• Forcing a victim to cash in, sell, or sign over any financial assets or inheritance (e.g., bonds, stock or property).

For domestic violence survivors leaving an abusive relationship, quality of life changes are imminent. A key component of The Allstate Foundation's program is its Financial Empowerment Curriculum - a comprehensive package of financial tools and information designed to empower victims to be self-sufficient with their finances. It educates and trains advocates and Allstate volunteers to work with domestic violence victims as they move forward on the path to financial security.

To learn more about The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program, visit www.EconEmpowerment.org. If you are the victim of domestic violence, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline to get support and discuss your options at 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224 (TYY).

About The Allstate Foundation
Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corporation. Allstate and The Allstate Foundation sponsor community initiatives to promote "safe and vital communities"; "tolerance, inclusion, and diversity"; and "economic empowerment." The Allstate Foundation believes in the financial potential of every individual and in helping America's families achieve their American dream. For additional information, visit www.ClickToEmpower.org.

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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Nicole Alley

Englewood , CO

Nicole Alley has posted 80 stories and 0 comments since joining on 11/13/2007. Nicole Alley 's average story rating is 5.

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