(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — New research sheds light on the necessity for assistance going to victims of domestic violence in Illinois.
The report published by The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence takes a look at all aspects of domestic violence survivor needs and services in Illinois.
Shelby Hoffman, research associate with The Network says this year, the city of Chicago provided more than 80% of funding to its Survivor Fund.
“The majority of the grants we issued last year were $1000 cash grants made directly to the survivor, which empowers them to make really granular level decisions about their needs day-to-day.”
Hoffman says the primary needs survivors spent money on were overwhelmingly related to basic essentials including assistance with rent, transportation, utilities, and food.
“In 2023 we distributed just under $6.4 million to survivors through cash and rental assistance programs. And those went to just over 5,800 individual survivors of gender based violence.”
The Network is a group of 45 member organizations dedicated to improving the lives of those impacted by gender-based violence through education, public policy and advocacy, and connecting community members with direct service providers.
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