Autonomy Fund

When a woman embarks on a journey to escape a situation of violence, she doesn't always manage to achieve full autonomy. Many of them, in fact, don’t have enough economic resources to live an independent life.

The D.i.Re. Association (Donne in Rete contro la violenza) was established in 2008 with the specific goal of combating gender-based violence and supporting victims in reclaiming a free life. It operates through a network of 83 organizations in 19 Italian regions managing over 110 Anti-Violence Centers and dozens of shelters in collaboration with institutions and civil society organizations.

The project we support aims to provide additional economic-financial assistance for these women: the Autonomy Fund. This tool is designed to promote independence and empowerment for women leaving shelters or anti-violence centers (the Italian CAV) by covering various expenses, including home management, purchase of essential appliances or furnishings, as well as training courses, equipment for small business initiatives, expenses for children, and more.

The process involved the launch of a call for the 15 CAVs in Lombardy affiliated with the D.i.Re. network (Varese, Pavia, Monza, Mantova, Lodi, Lecco, Como, Brescia, Bergamo, 3 CAVs in Milan, and 3 CAVs in Cremona). This call identified 33 women eligible to receive support to exit abusive situations, facilitating individually evaluated and supported pathways with the disbursement of a fund of €3,000 for each beneficiary.

The ultimate goal of the project is to fully support women who have decided to embark on the journey to escape violence, not only during their stay in the centers but also by promoting economic and housing autonomy and meeting the needs of their children to start a new life free from violence.

Details

Location: Lombardy

Association: D.i.Re - Donne in Rete contro la violenza

Beneficiaries: 30 women victims of violence leaving shelters

Contribution: up to €100,000.00

Duration: November 2022 - November 2023