By Liz Arellano, Economic Empowerment Coordinator
Shelter House is the local certified domestic violence and sexual violence center helping victims in Okaloosa and Walton counties. The agency’s mission is to support victims of domestic and sexual violence by providing shelter, intervention and primary prevention programs through education, awareness and advocating for social change. Did you know that 99 percent of survivors’ primary reason for staying or returning to an abusive relationship is their financial situation? Financial Abuse is real, and when it happens, many do not recognize it. Financial abuse may include tactics to hide information, control access to assets and mismanage the family finances. Financial abuse is used to gain power and control in a relationship, and along with emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, it can trap a person in a relationship. In some cases, financial abuse is present throughout the relationship while in others it becomes present when the survivor is attempting to leave or has left the relationship.
The occurrence of financial abuse is why Shelter House is excited to share the addition of Liz Arellano, Economic Empowerment Coordinator, to their team. Liz is originally from California and is fluent in both Spanish and English. Her background includes working with victims of crime through the Crime Victim Compensation Program in Washington. Through the Economic Empowerment Program, she aims to bring awareness of what financial abuse looks like, assist and provide information about financial safety planning, financial independence, build/rebuild credit scores, learn financial management skills and overall find long-term stability. Finances are never easy to talk about, especially when one is in crisis, struggling to find employment or a place to live due to poor credit. Liz and the Economic Empowerment Program can help with the tools for rebuilding credit scores and accomplishing financial goals. The decision to leave an abuser can be a difficult one. When survivors of domestic violence make an act of independence (such as leaving), their lethality rate increases by seven times. The power in the relationship has been challenged and the abuser often does whatever it takes to stay in control.
If you have chosen to leave an abuser, a safety plan might include finding a safe place to stay; changing your phone number; securing an emergency protective order for you and your children; and contacting trusted family and friends to let them know about the situation. Along with saving money, it is encouraged to keep personal information safe, having copies of important information such as birth certificates, social security numbers, protecting your credit and knowing your rights among other things.
Financial education is essential to safety and security for victims of domestic violence. Research shows that individuals who participate in financial education programs are more likely to live on a budget, understand credit and save money, three major steps to a more secure life. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, and/or financial abuse, know there is help on our 24/7 hotline (850) 863-4777 and/or the Florida Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-500-1119.
