When Carly began in The Cridge Supportive Transitional Housing Program she had recently applied for Income Assistance because leaving her abusive partner meant leaving financial security behind. In the midst of the turmoil associated with fleeing abuse, Carly also felt the stress of not knowing if she could make ends meet on her very limited income.
As Carly’s support worker began to meet with her regularly, they started talking about her finances: Carly shared that she had never had her own bank account or managed money as it was always controlled by her ex-partner. Carly’s support worker helped her to set up a chequing account and to create a monthly budget. Later, Carly signed up for the 8 week Financial Literacy Course offered by The Cridge Supportive Housing Program. There she learned more about budgeting, banking and saving, saw a demonstration of how to file income tax returns, and discovered more about how to establish good credit.
After graduating from Financial Literacy, Carly had an opportunity to participate in The Cridge Asset Building Program, an 18-month matched savings program where
participants open special savings accounts and set goals to deposit between $5 and $50 each month. These funds are then matched by donors, allowing the savings to grow even more. When Carly’s personal and matched savings were released to her after 18 months, she used these funds to pay for the tuition and equipment for a trades program. She is now employed full-time in the trades and continues to deposit some of her paycheck into a savings account!
“For the first time, I felt empowered and even excited to start planning for my financial future.” – Carly
Carly’s story is an example of how economic empowerment can provide more than just financial stability—it can create a sense of self-sufficiency and self-confidence that allows women to escape the cycle of violence once and for all. Exploring finances with Carly allowed us to bring so many challenging parts of her life into the light, and to start making them easier, bit by bit.
We are so grateful to be able to support women like Carly to experience economic empowerment, and for the support of our donors who make it happen!
