Food Podcast: How is domestic violence tied to food insecurity?
On this week’s episode of the Food Podcast presented by Clearview Federal Credit Union on the TribLIVE podcast network, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank learns more about the connection between domestic violence and food insecurity.
“Domestic violence is a pattern that one person uses in a relationship over the other that involves using control and power to really get what they want. We know that domestic violence can come in many forms,” said Nicole Molinaro, president and CEO of Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh.
Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh sees food insecurity present itself when a victim is leaving an abusive relationship.
“When you’re leaving an abusive relationship the financial control and the financial abuse can leave someone without any of their own resources even if they have a full-time and good paying job,” said Molinaro.
“They may not have savings they can use at that time. They might not be able to access their own money … Financial abuse can really play into food insecurity when someone is leaving the relationship.”
Molinaro adds food insecurity can be present when victims are still in an abusive relationship if the abuser controls finances for food or if and when a victim can eat.
Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh works with the Food Bank to get victims food assistance and adds the shelter does much more than provide emergency housing for victims.
“Only about 400-500 adults and children each year need our emergency shelter. The remainder of the 7,000+ survivors we serve are in our legal services, our wellness programs, and all of our other services that don’t require going into an emergency shelter,” said Molinaro.
“So many people say if I’m leaving an abusive relationship I must need to go into emergency housing and that’s a barrier to them. Absolutely not. There are many different ways you can get help.”
To learn more about the signs of domestic abuse, ways to help and how to get help, you can visit Wcscanhelp.org. You can also call 412-687-8005, text 412-744-8445, or chat online at wcscanhelp.org.
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