The Women’s and Children’s Alliance in Boise received a $10,000 grant from Verizon Wireless to provide financial literacy education to women. The WCA provides temporary housing for families affected by domestic violence, as well as legal help and mental health counseling. But the nonprofit also sees financial empowerment as part of their mission.
According to WCA deputy director Bev La Chance, in 2015, 56 percent of the women they served reported they were prevented from access to household money and resources. Sixty-three percent said their partner did not consult them about financial decisions.
“So that’s a pretty high percentage of individuals who really have no say about what’s going on financially and this can for years – even after they disengage from the relationship – really haunt them in some significant ways.”
La Chance says one of the ways this plays out is through wrecked credit scores and unfamiliarity with things like budgeting and how to set up a checking account. She says the $10,000 grant will go a long way in funding programs to teach women these skills, empowering them to their next phase of life.
Find Frankie Barnhill on Twitter @FABarnhill
Copyright 2016 Boise State Public Radio
