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A program focusing on:
- Increasing economic security for battered women and their children
In September of 2000, ROW became the coordinating body for ROW’s Economic Action Program (REAP), a collaborative program developed by 16 domestic violence and homeless service agencies to address economic issues for battered women in the St. Louis area. The overall goals of REAP are: 1) to assist low income battered women with achieving economic independence; 2) to assist low income battered women with increasing safeguards against future incidents of domestic violence; and 3) to create an economic development service delivery model that reflects the unique needs of battered women and the agencies which provide services to battered women. The following summarizes the REAP services:
- Economic education and Credit Counseling: a 12 hour group economic education curriculum (REAP) that helps women gain control of their finances. All participants in the economic education program develop an individualized economic action plan. In addition to receiving core financial information, including assistance with dealing with creditors, emphasis on safety issues and concerns is provided throughout the curriculum;
- Individual Development Accounts: Specifically, IDAs are an asset building strategy that can help battered women save money to obtain assets through special matched savings accounts. After participating in the economic education curriculum, battered women are given the opportunity to save money monthly for up to four years. Once they’ve saved enough to make a down payment on a home, pursue career enhancing education, or start a small business, REAP will match each dollar they saved, up to $500 a year, with two additional dollars. All women who open an IDA are provided with individual advocacy and support for length of the program; and
- Economic Advocacy and Support: On-going economic advocacy is provided to all women enrolled in the economic education group curriculum. Specific assistance is given to women, which details specific steps necessary to become economically self-sufficient, including education and employment planning; continuous safety planning; and resource identification and acquisition. An economic plan is developed that includes steps to begin addressing outstanding debt and other long term goals, such as education and asset development.
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