New Beginnings Loan Fund

One in three women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime.

Investing in United Way’s New Beginnings Loan Fund can make a difference in breaking the cycle of familial abuse.

The New Beginnings Loan Fund and United Way’s partner agencies enable women and children in our region to access a range of supports to help them leave an abusive relationship and rebuild their lives.

The Fund provides women with interest-free loans of up to $500 per household to meet emergency or rebuilding needs. Loans cover costs for such things as moving or storage, home repairs, rent or utility costs, home security, transportation, legal costs, and providing basic needs for children. Loan repayments are returned to the Fund for the benefit of other women who need the help in the future.

United Way’s New Beginnings Loan Fund has received national recognition from the Canadian Women’s Foundation for innovation in helping women leaving abusive relationships and start over in a safe and dignified way.

Sometimes called “micro-loans,” the New Beginnings Loan Fund (NBLF) allows women to borrow up to $500 interest free, to cover emergency expenses to leave abusive or dangerous situations. Often without independent resources, credit cards or credit ratings; women may stay in situations where they are not safe. Control over money and spending can be a powerful weapon for abusers, while access to a small amount of money – even $27 for taxi fare – can be the tool that allows a woman to access the safety and services she deserves.

While the loan is vital as the first step towards asserting their independence, women also often need advice on finding the right services, counselling to deal with trauma, child care and child counselling, employment support or training, a peer network, sometimes even basic life-skills and confidence-building to help build up resiliency. Most of all, they need people who believe in them.

Women do repay their loans, but the intention of the program is providing support and dignity to the applicant. Repayment plans are determined individually in accordance with what the woman feels she can comfortably pay, and a grace period may be negotiated. Therefore, the replenishment of the fund does not keep pace and each year, demand outstrips what we have available to give out.

Financial contributions are continually needed to replenish the fund and provide the supports needed by our applicants to be successful in their first year in their new situation.