Delray Beach-based Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse, Inc. (AVDA) is asking local realtors to help identify affordable rentals and educate landlords on the financial impact domestic violence has on survivors and their credit, often preventing them from accessing independent housing.
The initiative is part of a recently launched Economic Justice Project.
Previously, Sanchez served as the shelter's Victim Advocate. Now, she will head up the new project. AVDA is one of 42 certified domestic violence centers in the state of Florida. It began serving clients in 1986. AVDA has a new state-of-the-art emergency shelter, an outreach program and a transitional house that helps focus on economic self-sufficiency with a goal of obtaining permanent housing.
AVDA's mission is to promote violence-free relationships and social change by offering alternative choices to end violence and domestic abuse. AVDA annually provides services to over 10,000 individuals from Palm Beach County and surrounding areas.
Through the new program, AVDA will provide financial literacy classes to victims of domestic abuse.
Participants will increase their understanding of how to efficiently manage their finances. The program will also provide Financial Empowerment Workshops using part of Allstate's "Moving Ahead Through Financial Management" curriculum. The main objective is for the participants to acquire both the confidence needed to remain independent, as well as to develop the ability to successfully identify resources within their communities, which will help them secure housing and employment.
AVDA will also be collaborating with community agencies in order to better serve survivors. Affordable housing remains difficult for survivors to access. AVDA is currently seeking business attire donations for the Employment Workshops.
Sanchez hopes to hear from area realtors and landlords, so that she can share additional information and work with them to identify affordable rentals that will rent to people who have been in domestic violence situations and had their finances compromised.