#FinancialAbuse is one of the most powerful methods of keeping a survivor trapped by #IntimatePartnerViolence and deeply diminishes their ability to stay safe after leaving an abusive partner. We see financial abuse occurring in every case of #DomesticViolence that we represent, which is confirmed by research from The National Network to End Domestic Violence (https://nnedv.org/content/about-financial-abuse/). The lasting effects of financial abuse can be devastating. In the short-term, access to assets is imperative to staying safe. Without assets, survivors are often unable to obtain housing or the funds to provide for themselves and their families. For those who manage to escape, they often face overwhelming odds in obtaining long-term security and safety; ruined credit scores, sporadic employment histories, and legal issues caused by the abuse make it extremely difficult to gain independence, safety, and long-term security. The Women's Law Center is honored to join the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence's Survivor #EconomicEmpowerment and Development Program - or SEED - to help our clients rebuild their lives from financial abuse. WLC clients will now have access to The Allstate Foundation's #MovingAhead Financial Literacy Training, Credit Counseling, and special funding opportunities to get their lives back on track. 🔗Learn more at: https://wlcmd.org/financial-abuse/ (fb)

🗓️ SAVE THE DATE: June 5 is the national #DayOfAction to demand continued federal funding for sexual assault and domestic violence services. Nearly 65% of the Women’s Law Center’s funding comes from federal sources. Without it, legal hotlines go dark. Protective order representation disappears. Survivors are left to navigate abuse, custody, and the courts alone. We can’t—and won’t—let that happen. 📣 Mark your calendar. Tell your community. Raise your voice. Because survivors deserve more than uncertainty. Join us. Survivors and communities are counting on it. #FundSafetyNow #ProtectVictims #SaveTheDate (fb)