“We Would Have Had to Stay”: Survivors’ Economic Security and Access to Public Benefits Programs

This joint report of The National Domestic Violence Hotline, the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, and the National Latin@ Network for Healthy Families and Communities at Casa de Esperanza overviews a survey of 289 domestic violence survivors who contacted the hotline in 2017. The survey covered experiences of economic instability in 2017, the importance of benefits, applying for benefits and barriers to applying, screening and disclosure of abuse, and loss of benefits. The report noted that poverty and domestic violence are interconnected, and strengthening the safety net is crucial to helping survivors and their families reach economic stability, well-being, and safety. (See also Resources on "intimate partner violence" in the Resource Library)