Survivor Emergency Fund

Consider supporting the much-needed survivor emergency fund. 

Why do survivors need an emergency fund? While the Dean of Students Office helps survivors navigate supportive resources on- and off-campus, these experiences can lead to a number of unforeseen expenses not covered by the university.

• Twenty-seven percent of UW students report experiencing sexual assault. Sexual assault survivors may have unanticipated medical expenses, including medications and services not covered by insurance and not provided by Student Health. They may need help covering the costs of new bedding or clothes.
• Relationship violence survivors may need help with a security deposit or application fee to move out of an abusive living situation and into a new home.
• Stalking survivors may need support to increase personal security, like changing or installing locks on doors and windows or accessing technical assistance to remove tracking malware from computers and cellphones.

This fall a student was given funding for a ring doorbell to attend to her ongoing safety concerns related to domestic violence and stalking. Additionally, from fall 2018 to spring 2019, the Dean of Student's Office assisted a student who was in a physically abusive relationship. Part of this assistance included moving her out of the apartment she shared with the abuser and into a safe place while a Student Conduct and criminal process ensued. The emergency fund helped cover the cost of a few months of her rent. This student then had 6 consecutive semesters of a 4.0 GPA and graduated with a 3.4 GPA; she had a 2.0 prior to support from this fund and the Dean of Students Office.

We hope that you will join us in giving to this emergency fund and help remove one of the many obstacles that survivors face on their path to recovery and to assist them in their persistence to graduation. We so much appreciate your support!