FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 7, 2020
CONTACT: Connie Neal, Executive Director
CNEAL@NYSCADV.ORG/518-482-5465
Albany, NY — The New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NYSCADV) is providing economic empowerment grants to Brighter Tomorrows, Inc., on Long Island, Center for Safety & Change in the Hudson Valley, and Barrier Free Living in New York City to support survivors of financial abuse. NYSCADV received the funding for a second year in a row through the Allstate Foundation’s “Moving Ahead” program.
Connie Neal, Executive Director of NYSCADV, said, “In our first year of launching this economic empowerment program in New York State, domestic violence advocates were able to assist more than 397 survivors working to overcome financial challenges and build financially independent lives. As the challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic continue, NYSCADV is very pleased to expand this project to reach more survivors of domestic violence throughout the coming year.”
Each domestic violence advocacy program will receive an annual award of $19,000. The agencies’ programming will be based on a curriculum developed by the Allstate Foundation and the National Network to End Domestic Violence.
Cynthia Amadeo, Chief Program Officer at Barrier Free Living said of receiving the grant: “Barrier Free Living is grateful to NYSCADV for the opportunity to enhance services by offering the Allstate Foundation "Moving Ahead" curriculum to domestic violence survivors with disabilities and those who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. As we know, people with disabilities and those who are Deaf experience violence at greater rates than those without a disability or hearing. Financial abuse is a very common technique used to maintain power and control in abusive relationships and we hope that through individualized and group support, survivors will feel empowered to make financial choices and gain resources.”
Elizabeth Santiago, CEO of Center for Safety & Change, states: “The Center for Safety & Change is extremely grateful to have been selected as a recipient of the Allstate Foundation’s “Moving Ahead” grant program. This funding will enable the agency to create a financial empowerment program that equips survivors with the knowledge and tools they need to establish financial independence from their perpetrators.”
The Center for Safety & Change intends to use its funding to train 40 advocates, help survivors with job readiness and job training, and offer financial empowerment workshops in English, Spanish, French/Creole, and Hebrew for survivors with limited English proficiency. Brighter Tomorrows will use its funding to continue its “Latinas Moving Ahead” project which assists Spanish-speaking domestic violence survivors who live in transitional housing and shelter with a match savings program. Barrier Free Living will provide one-on-one and group sessions in English and American Sign Language to survivors from communities across New York City and focus on such topics as eviction prevention, financial fraud, debt reduction, retirement, investments, and building and repairing credit.
Click here to download the press release.
About the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence:
Founded in 1978, NYSCADV is a statewide membership organization working to create and support the social change necessary to prevent and confront all forms of domestic violence. NYSCADV’s membership includes local domestic violence service providers, survivors, allies, and community members committed to ending domestic violence. NYSCADV’s mission is achieved through activism, training, prevention, technical assistance and legislative advocacy. For more information about NYSCADV, visit www.nyscadv.org.
