Valerie L. Williams, BBA, MSc, CHC, CCEP
Founder & CEO
The mission of the Lady Be Free Resource
Center for Women, Inc. is to decrease
domestic violence and minimize its impact
through evidence based programs that
provide protection, education and
prevention. We are committed to empower
our survivors with the skills necessary to
acquire and maintain self-sufficiency.
A
pattern of abusive behavior that is used by
an intimate partner to gain or maintain power
and control over the other intimate partner.
 Domestic
violence can be physical, sexual,
emotional, economic, or psychological actions
or threats of actions that influence another
person.
 This
includes any behaviors that intimidate,
manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten,
terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt,
injure, or wound someone.
 Domestic
violence is one of the most
chronically underreported crimes
 One in every 4 women will experience
domestic violence in her lifetime
 85% of domestic violence victims are women
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Domestic violence victims often return to their batterers
when a viable option for permanent housing cannot be
found.
A family earning minimum wage cannot afford a twobedroom apartment at fair market rent.
Victims and survivors of domestic violence often have
trouble finding other housing as their history of abuse may
have caused poor employment, credit or rental histories.
Due to high demand, most domestic violence shelters do not
allow victims to stay more than 90 days.
More than half of the U.S. cities identified domestic
violence as a primary cause of homelessness.
Five Things to Say When a Victim Says They
Cannot Leave
 I am afraid for your safety.
 I am afraid for the safety of your children.
 It will only get worse.
 There is help available.
 You don't deserve to be abused.
What should you do when a woman confides in you?
 Believe
her
 Acknowledge and support her for talking to you
 Let her lead the conversation
 Tell her you care about her and are concerned
for her safety
 Don’t blame her for the abuse
 Offer your help to find resources
Lady Be Free will provide an affordable and supportive transitional
housing program for survivors of domestic violence to assist them in
obtaining:
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self-sufficiency through weekly case management
utilization of community resources
raise education and income levels
teach life skills
The transition is to aid residents to be more self sufficient to move
towards independent living. Residents must be referred from
another agency, will pay rent on a sliding scale and will be required
to maintain negative drug and alcohol screenings.
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Identified Transitional Plan
Transitional Housing for 6-12 months
Support Services
- Permanent housing search
- Development of essential learning skills
- Mental health & wellness
Development of Aftercare Plan
Work for a cause, not for
applause. Live to express, not to
impress. Inspect what you expect.
Don’t strive to make your
presence noticed, strive to make
your absence felt.
Be an atmosphere changer!
Calls are held every 15th day of the month at
8pm EST
Topic: Fresh Start
Dial-In: (646) 307-1300
Passcode: 4003579