Economic Empowerment Program

In 98% of domestic violence cases, economic abuse occurs and is often the main reason survivors stay or return to abusive partners.

Establishing economic security and stability is an integral part of providing holistic care to our clients and an essential part of a survivor’s healing process. Our goal is to support survivors of domestic violence and homeless families in reclaiming what was lost as a result of the abuse they experienced.

Common signs of financial abuse include:

• Withholding money or restricting assets
• Not allowing a partner to work or forcing a partner to work and taking their wages
• Withholding important identification documents
• Opening credit cards or financial accounts in a partner’s name without their knowledge and then neglecting to pay the bills
• Coercing a survivor to open financial accounts with the threat or perceived threat of endangerment to themselves, children, and/or pets

How We Help

We believe financial independence is key to helping survivors build safer, more sustainable lives for themselves and their families. The Economic Empowerment Program at URI works with survivors to create short- and long-term financial plans with clients, equipping survivors with the resources to gain and maintain control over their financial futures.

Our program provides clients with career and financial workshops through trauma-informed and anti-oppressive lens. In addition to workshops, our program offers the following services:

• Individualized support to co-create plans that establish economic safety, stability, and security informed by the survivor’s financial history, current situation, their work experience, skills, and interests.
• Workshops & Virtual Workshops on topics from resume and cover letter writing to mock interviewing to how to make the best first impression. Trainings are also offered on gaining conflict resolution skills and navigating boundaries and triggers in the workplace.
• Internships and Externships that help survivors learn marketable skills and gain experience in professional work environments. This provides a space to put into action the skills they have learned during workshops and network.
• Specialized Programs & Training in administration, bookkeeping, and more
• Legal Education and Advocacy Program
  (LEAP) helps survivors with longstanding financial issues work with legal advisors to address credit and debt issues that could have a long-term impact on their financial stability and ability to obtain permanent housing.

URI’s Economic Empowerment Center offers survivors state-of-the-art technology, an on-site mechatronics lab, and career exploration tools like Occupational Information Network (O*NET). The Center will be uniquely focused on preparing youth for jobs of the future in technology and other high-growth industries to counter intergenerational cycles of poverty.

Ways to Partner with URI’s Economic Empowerment Program

In order to provide the best services to our clients, we seek partners from a variety of different types of companies and organizations to expand our reach. We are currently building our network of employer partnerships, training provider partnerships, internship opportunities, and apprenticeship opportunities.

For more information or to partner with URI’s Economic Empowerment Program, please contact our team at infoeep@urinyc.org.

URI In the News

4 Warning Signs Of Financial Abuse—And How Victims Can Recover

Tax Professionals Must Look Out for Economic Abuse Each Tax Season

Domestic abusers are taking survivors’ stimulus checks — and lawmakers want the IRS to do something about it

URI Economic Empowerment Program (EEP) staff members work directly with clients to provide training, tools, and resources to end cycles of violence, homelessness, and intergenerational poverty. Hear from EEP Program Director, Teal Inzunza and Director of the Fabrication Lab (Fab Lab), John Jeffreys on how the program is helping adults and youth achieve stable futures.

In their journey from surviving to healing, URI clients receive the support and gain the confidence to forge pathways to bright futures. For so many of the individuals and families who’ve entered URI, the newfound financial freedom and self-sufficiency transforms their lives beyond what they’d previously imagined for themselves. Listen first hand to the triumphant stories of former URI clients.