Previous Telephones Equal New Hope

Based on the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey
carried out by the CDC, about 20 folks per minute are victims of intimate companion
violence in america. This equals greater than 10 million ladies and men who’ve been impacted by home violence over the course of a 12 months.

by Tracy Achen 

To place this extra in perspective, home violence impacts almost 1 in 4
girls, 1 in 9 males and greater than 3 million youngsters in america. These
numbers underscore the necessity for home violence help providers, prevention
applications, and assist for the victims.

Serving to Abuse Survivors Keep Linked

All through the years, there have been numerous providers which have labored to offer cell telephones to home violence survivors:

• More Than a Phone – Companions with home violence shelters to offer free sensible telephones and information. 
• Free Government Cell Phones – Discover out about Lifeline and the Inexpensive Connectivity Program to see if you happen to qualify for a free mobile phone. 
• Verizon Hopeline – Partnered with home violence applications to offer free cell telephones to abuse victims.

HopeLine® from Verizon was a challenge that supported quite a few home violence
applications and the folks they serve. By amassing beforehand owned cell telephones,
batteries, and equipment, they refurbished and recycled the gadgets,
conserving them out of landfills. Proceeds have been then used to fund native shelters and
present assets to assist enhance consciousness of home violence and supply
assets for prevention and sufferer restoration.

Why Home Violence Victims Want Telephones

Having a mobile phone is usually a lifeline for victims of home violence. It allows them to contact family and friends, be in contact with shelter and help providers, and name 911 if crucial. To make this doable, the Hopeline program distributed cell telephones by way of native shelters, law-enforcement companies, and social service companies to be used with their home violence shoppers.

Actually, they offered greater than 180,000 telephones to home violence victims and survivors from 2001 to 2014 (this system stopped offering telephones on February 20, 2018). These telephones got here with 3000 anytime minutes of wi-fi service, together with text-messaging. Despite the fact that this system is not energetic, you may nonetheless name the Nationwide Home Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for added help and assist.

How the Hopeline Program Labored

Hopeline did not settle for financial donations, however quite recycled previous telephones. Cash from refurbished telephones offered grants to varied home violence applications. Actually, Verizon granted greater than $20 million to varied organizations supporting survivors of home violence by way of the years.

And over 180,000 telephones have been additionally donated to survivors of home throughout the course of this system. These telephones gave survivors a method to connect with the skin world which was past the management of their abuser. 

Verizon made donating telephones straightforward. Folks have been capable of deliver their previous cell telephones, batteries and equipment to their native
Verizon retailer and drop them within the assortment bins. They may additionally mail these
objects in by printing a postage-paid mailing label from Verizon. It did not
matter if the cellphone was from a distinct supplier. Even when it was damaged; the
elements could possibly be recycled in an environmentally sound method and used to generate funds
for this system. 

Folks have been additionally capable of sponsor a cellphone drive of their group to gather used telephones.
Their help helped proceed to place cell telephones within the arms of home
violence victims and enhance assets and consciousness of home violence. 

Hopeline was a long-term effort

For these skeptical in regards to the motivation behind this system, relaxation assured this wasn’t a publicity stunt by Verizon. HopeLine has been an ongoing challenge since 1995 when the corporate was referred to as Bell Atlantic Cell. Again then, this system donated wi-fi telephones for home violence victims and voicemail bins for ladies residing in shelters.

Since 2001, Verizon donated lots of of 1000’s of telephones to victims and survivors of home abuse. Additionally they donated over $21 million in money grants to varied home violence organizations and picked up over 10.8 million telephones to be refurbished or recycled. It was a win-win state of affairs for the atmosphere and victims of home violence. 

We’re unhappy to see the tip of this system and hope one other mobile phone supplier decides to do one thing related.

In case you are in an abusive relationship, these articles might help:

1. Divorce
   

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2. Abusive Relationships
   

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3. Hopeline Program