The Voices Project

Domestic Violence as a Barrier to Self Sufficiency

At Crittenton Women’s Union, we offer programs that assist and educate women to achieve self-sufficiency for themselves, and for their families. But we most often think of that mission in economic terms: What skills does this woman need?  What kind of job is she training for?  How much money will she eventually earn?

For women who are victims of domestic violence, the batterer in their lives represents a tangible barrier to any efforts that she makes to achieve self sufficiency. Studies frequently show that the abuser interferes with a women’s ability to go to work, receive training or attend school. For example, a woman may report that on the night before an exam, her partner harassed her and kept her awake so that she could not study and was too tired to take the test the next day. Manipulations like this, in addition to actual physical violence, are another tool in the abuser arsenal to keep a woman economically bound to the relationship, no matter how negative the situation. 

In response to this type of situation, CWU maintains two transitional housing programs for battered women and their children, providing them with a safe alternative to remaining in a violent situation.  While living in one of these programs, women are also given the opportunity to involve themselves in education and workforce development initiatives offered by both CWU and our other partner agencies. In this way she can start to heal from her experience and also move towards self-sufficiency economically and emotionally without interference.

Domestic violence programs at CWU are part of a statewide network of 45+ programs that provide emergency and transitional shelter, hotlines, emergency relocation, and counseling for individuals and in groups. Funding for these critical domestic violence programs in Massachusetts has never been sufficient to meet the needs of victims.  In a recent Boston Herald article conditions are described as reaching a crisis level and funding not sufficient to meet basic needs.
 
Like its sister programs, transitional housing for domestic violence survivors at CWU has had a tenuous funding history and 50% of the annual funding must be privately raised through private donations and foundation grants. In February 2007, CWU applied for a federal grant from the Department of Justice to support its domestic violence program and we have just been notified that CWU will be the recipient of this new funding source from the Department of Justice.  DOJ is responsible for distributing funds under the Violence Against Women Act and this particular grant opportunity focuses on supporting transitional housing for battered women, as well as providing a variety of support services for this target group. The grant period will begin provides a total of $255,000 over three years, supporting approximately 20% of the program budget each year. 

This new addition to the funding pool will significantly assist CWU in continuing to provide critical services to battered women and their families, as well as meeting the financial needs of all its programs. CWU is extremely fortunate to be the recipient of this national award. However, funding at all government levels continues to be short for domestic violence efforts.  While our state budget for domestic violence services in Massachusetts has increased  by 33% in the past five years,  only 60% of that budget goes for those direct services that support hotlines, shelters, and counseling services.

Across the state hundreds of requests for safe housing are declined for lack of space in programs like the one operated by CWU.  The recent death of Elizabeth Cann, together with  the shooting of her two children makes headlines. Behind those headlines however, women that we never hear about, are threatened and beaten, deprived of their right to grow and achieve. To ensure these right to every woman, each of us needs to support more funding to help victims of domestic violence, whether it be with a your own donation or by advocating for more support with your legislator.   

Jane Titus
Contracts Officer
Crittenton Women's Union

Welfare Memories

I remember that anxious, nauseous feeling in the pit of my stomach as I waited for my check to come in the mail at 2:00pm - so I could cash it at the bank by 3:00pm - to pay my electric bill by 4:00pm - so the lights wouldn't be shut off at 5:00pm.

I remember the ubiquitous smell - and taste - of Kraft macaroni and cheese with hot dogs.

I remember the secretary's haughty tone of voice when she informed me, "We don't deliver 'down there'.' when giving her my address for a fuel oil payment plan.

I remember the local housing authority taking our bathroom sink off the wall and back to their shop for a week to replace a faucet washer.

I remember welfare workers telling me " I didn't go to a school like that" and to "get a job - any job" when I told them I'd been accepted at a top women's college.

I remember fighting every step of the way for a better life for my children and me.

And I remember winning.  Never give up.  Never.

Brenda H. Stone-Riley, CWU GED Instructor

Domestic Violence

Dear sister graduates & non graduates
Of the school of fear

My name is Fee; I am a victim of domestic violence. I want to talk about a subject that is almost taboo.

Domestic violence, physical & emotional abuse in our society affects all of us it doesn’t discriminate between our race, social status, or religion. On behalf of those who can no longer speak up because they are dead, on my own self and those who are still in bondage in the school of terror and shame.

You are not alone. Let’s tear down the wall of shame, like the wall of Berlin West & East was turned down in '89.  It is time to stand up to fight this war against us at the physical level by taking this matter to the legislature.

Statistics shows that 4 women die from the hand of their husband or boyfriend every day; over half of the victims don’t report their abuser to police because they view it as a private or personal matter, or are afraid of reprisal of their abusers. Domestic violence homicide narrative on Jane Doe INC annual review for Massachusetts was 17 incidents that occurred between December 31, 2003 to January 1, 2003 which resulted in the death of 24 people, 19 victims of homicide and 5 perpetrators who then committed suicide.

The affect of emotional abuse is disgraceful to women's spirits. Some cases can lead to mental illness, addiction to drink, or even death. It takes faith and spiritual strength to rise up to fight the enemy within, a person that you love, have loved compare to the enemy outside.  It is a crime against us, we women, who have put our truth, lives in the hands of those who supposed to protect us.

It is a betrayal which should no longer be a spiritual crime, but also a physical one in the eyes of the law maker, to make it a law. At the time that we want legislature to make stronger abuse laws with penalty of imprisonment for the perpetrator & help for the victim. We want the legislature to put a system in place a program for people to know each other and to go to marriage counseling, promise to care for each other, to the best of their abilities, to commit themselves to their marriage to prevent the worse.

Marriage is the most important relationship between men & women. Yet not taught. We teach and learn anything from cooking, human DNA, to Chemistry. We even go to the moon to know our planet, but we don’t take the time to know & to commit to each other.

Why not invest in marriage which is the mother of all relationship.  Marriage can be the best thing to happen to any lonely soul waiting for a soul mate.  On the other hand, when it is the opposite it can be a nightmare.  Let the government put in place a system of marriage counseling & advisor to bring down the statistic of domestic violence & abuse, to have healthy marriages & family relationship.

We may not eradicate the whole problem, but we will be glade to have started the process.

Sisters, as I mentioned at the beginning, domestic abuse doesn’t care about your social status, color, or religion. Stand up for domestic abuse. Let your voice be heard by casting your vote today in support of stopping the abuse and give a chance for healthy family act plan, for the next generation to come.

In God we trust to overcome all obstacles.

Democratic Candidates Answer Your Questions!

Do you have questions for the Democratic presidential candidates on women and poverty in the U.S.? If elected, do you want to know what they plan to do about the growing divide between the rich and the poor? Now is your chance!

MSNBC is calling for questions for the Democratic debate in New Hampshire on September 26, 2007. Go to their website and complete their form with your questions right now! Continue to MSNBC >>>

After you send your question to MSNBC, why not post them here as a comment? Let us know what issues are most important to you!

The Definition of Poverty

Last week the US Census Bureau released the 2006 Federal Poverty Level (FPL) which reported that the FPL for a family of three to be considered “living in poverty” is $16,079. This is no where near what it takes a family of three in Massachusetts to get by. The application of the FPL is widespread. Food stamps, Section 8 housing vouchers, child care vouchers, WIC, all of these programs are based on the FPL, an antiquated formula created 40 years ago when families spent 1/3 of their income on food. The FPL does not take into consideration housing, transportation, taxes, childcare, or family type nor does it account for regional cost variations.

A more realistic measure of a family’s ability to provide basic goods necessary for survival is the Massachusetts Family Economic Self-Sufficiency (FESS) Standard which does take into account family type and geographic location. According to FESS, an adult with a preschool and a school aged child living in Boston actually needs to earn $58,133 a year to be self-sufficient with NO GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS. $58,000 a year! This is nearly 3 times the FPL and does not include “luxuries” such as clothing, school supplies, entertainment, etc.

The difference between the FPL and FESS shows us that a larger proportion of women and families than poverty figures indicate are living in poverty. To combat this we must continue to advocate for the continuation and expansion of education and workforce training programs so we can prepare women for careers that pay a self-sufficient wage which will lead them to a life of economic independence.

Kelsey McCoy
Public Policy Coordinator
Crittenton Women's Union