October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and we’re exploring the connections between domestic violence and family homelessness.

In this video, Norene Roberts explains how abusers isolate their victims from friends and family. Victims who have few financial resources and not many people to turn to can become trapped in violent relationships, and often face homelessness when they do leave their abusers.

Norene is program manager at The Salvation Army’s Catherine Booth House, a confidentially located domestic violence shelter for women and children. Norene’s decade of professional social service experience includes work with organizations focused on child abuse and neglect, youth homelessness, youth development, human trafficking, and sexual assault and rape, in addition to domestic violence and family homelessness. She serves on the Firesteel Advisory Council, and was a featured advocate earlier this year.

Norene also shares advice in this video about helping a loved one who is experiencing domestic violence. Because one in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime, and most survivors turn to friends and family first for support, chances are high that someone you love might need your help. It’s important to educate yourself!

What You Can Do:

• Share this video on social media, and “like” Firesteel on Facebook to follow all our content.
• Contact your legislators. Tell them you are concerned about domestic violence in your community. Ask them what they’re doing to prevent abuse and help survivors.
• Visit PurplePurse.com, a website designed to help people talk about domestic violence and financial abuse. When you register your virtual purse by entering the code 01286, Allstate will donate $5 to YWCA domestic violence programs.