ROW's Economic Action Program
ROW's Economic Action Program (REAP) provides innovative economic intervention services to low-income women impacted by intimate partner violence. REAP works to promote increased economic security, physical and emotional health, and hope for the future for domestic violence victims through the provision of economic literacy, economic advocacy, access to individual development accounts, and community outreach and training.
Services Include:
Economic Education and Credit Counseling:
A 12-hour group economic education curriculum (REAP) is provided on-site at over
17 separate locations in the St. Louis geographic area. These include either
emergency shelter programs or non-residential social service programs serving
low income women. In addition to receiving core financial information on
budgeting, credit, banking and investing, assistance is provided in dealing with
creditors and emphasis on safety issues/concerns is provided throughout the
curriculum. All women participate in credit counseling, and develop an
individualized economic action plan.
Individual Development Accounts
After completing ROW's Economic Action Program curriculum, low-income battered
women have the opportunity to apply for an Individual Development Account (IDA).
IDA's help women save for assets such as home ownership, career enhancing
education, home repair, an automobile, or starting a small business. This is
done through a matched savings account in which ROW provides a 2:1 match, with a
$3,000 ceiling in match funds provided over a two and a half year period (ex; if
a participant saves $1,500, she will receive $3,000 in match funds). Although
there are a few non-profit organizations within the St. Louis metropolitan area
that are providing IDA's, none of these programs are currently reaching out
specifically to battered women within the community.
Economic Advocacy and Support
On-going economic advocacy is offered to all women enrolled in the economic
education group curriculum. All women receiving services are assisted with
developing an individual economic action plan. This plan details specific steps
necessary to become economically secure, including education and employment
planning; continuous safety planning; and resource identification and
acquisition. The plan also includes steps to begin addressing outstanding debt
and other long-term goals, such as asset development. Follow-up advocacy and
support services are required for all women who open an Individual Development
Account – meeting a minimum of once every other month throughout her savings
goal