This is part 1 of our three-part series on how case management helps survivors access vital resources and how your donations can help survivors regain some control over their lives.
Do you have reliable transportation to work or school? Do you have savings that you could use in case of emergency, like leaving a dangerous living situation? Do you have someone you can call for support at a hospital visit or doctor’s appointment? For many survivors, answering these questions can be difficult, shameful, and stressful. And when sexual violence happens, it often amplifies the challenges that survivors are already facing.
Trauma doesn’t just magnify life’s challenges but creates new ones, too. For many survivors, life can feel so overwhelming that they don’t even know where to start.
Dana* was one survivor who felt like no matter what she did, the pieces wouldn’t fall into place. Dana was a college student and survivor of sexual harassment. She chose to move out of state to protect her own physical and mental health. But she was still committed to finishing her degree. While commuting to class, her car started breaking down. Not only was she falling behind in school, but she also started to miss shifts at work with no way to get there. Missing shifts meant she couldn’t afford her car’s repair, and she was falling behind in paying for basic needs like rent and utilities. Dana reached out to BARCC because she didn’t have anywhere else to turn.
BARCC’s case management team was able to assist Dana with accessing resources to cover transportation costs and guide her through the process of receiving rent support. And because of generous BARCC supporters, Dana was able to get her car repaired, continue working, and pursue her degree.
Dana’s Case Manager was only able to meet her transportation needs because there was funding available to cover survivors in extenuating circumstances. It is because of our donors that we are able to help survivors with no other options to keep going. Donating to BARCC allows Case Managers and the rest of BARCC’s team to help survivors access:
- Assistance paying for heating, electricity, or other utilities
- Warm clothes to get them through the winter months
- Transportation to work and school
- And so much more.
No matter the size, your donation to BARCC’s emergency fund directly impacts the lives of survivors in our community, helping them access Case Management services and life-changing resources.
If you or a loved one are a survivor needing help dealing with life after sexual violence, call BARCC’s 24/7 hotline at 800-841-8371 or send us a chat between 9 a.m.–11 p.m. to receive support and be connected with resources.
*Names have been changed to protect confidentiality.
