Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Community Foundation has granted $10,000 through the Vermont Women’s Fund to fund a partnership between Voices Against Violence and Growing Money, two programs of the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO). Through the partnership, survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Franklin and Grand Isle Counties will learn financial skills to increase their confidence and to become self-sufficient.
“We know that one of the reasons that survivors stay in abusive relationships is because they fear they will not be able to support themselves. Learning financial skills is crucial for survivors to become self-sufficient & economically secure” says Voices Kris Lukens.
In 2020, staff at Voices received more than 1,600 calls to the hotline; 474 victims/survivors were served including 68 children; 88 families were sheltered in Laurie’s House and motels for a total of 4041 nights, and 6 families were served in our Transitional Housing Program. Voices staff members supervised 633 visits, helping families to navigate separation, divorce, custody, and court orders, compounded by violence in the relationship, to find support and safety.
Growing Money helps low-income Vermonters gain the skills needed for day-to-day financial management.
The Vermont Women's Fund is a statewide organization committed to supporting women and girls on pathways to economic well-being, including career development. The Fund's mission is to ensure that all women and girls in Vermont can rise and thrive. Learn more at vermontwomensfund.org.
CVOEO’s mission is to address the fundamental issues of economic, social, and racial justice and to work with people to achieve economic independence. The community members CVOEO serves are single mothers, elderly, veterans, underemployed and unemployed, disabled, and refugees.
Source: St. Albans, VT. The Vermont Community Foundation 6.1.2021