Helping a friend leave an abusive husband
I have a close friend who wants to leave her husband due to mental and financial abuse. She has a 9 year old boy from previous relationship, and a 5 year old and 18 months old girl with current husband. She does not work due to childcare issues, but when she did work a couple days a week he would put her down or act like her money was meaningless or not enough. He yells at her and treats her son differently than he does his daughters. He points out that she cannot buy anything for Christmas because she doesn't have a job, and he yells at her and her son over late bedtimes. There's so much more to it but to get to the point, this has been going on for years and she's had enough. She has a place to stay in January, an apartment coming open that will be free for a while. The boy has a stable home at his dad's and Grandma's so she has support there but is worried about childcare for the daughters. Basically, I'm looking for ideas for resources for her. What does she need to start with to plan to leave?She does not have access to much money if any right now, so any resources to help with food and utilities and daily needs would be useful. We are located in Southwest VA. I know she already has Medicaid and some food stamps but any ideas for assistance would be appreciated. She really needs a game plan of what steps to take first. Also, she has mental health issues so if anyone knows online mental health platforms that take Medicaid that would be a huge help! Thanks
@thegreatcatsby741 hi there, catsby. thank you for sharing this with the community.
I am really sorry to hear that your friend is going through such a situation. It is really awful and even scary to think about it. Encourage your friend to prioritize safety by creating a plan for potential conflicts and having essential documents ready. Seek legal advice from local domestic violence agencies regarding separation, child custody, and restraining orders. Explore women's shelters or domestic violence hotlines for temporary housing. Connect with local assistance programs for financial support and childcare services. Make sure she is aware of government assistance programs, job placement services, and community resources for additional support. Encourage participation in local support groups for survivors of domestic violence for emotional support and insights.
what do you think?