Previous Telephones Equal New Hope

In keeping with the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey
carried out by the CDC, about 20 individuals per minute are victims of intimate companion
violence in the USA. This equals greater than 10 million men and women who’ve been impacted by home violence over the course of a yr.

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 kids in the USA. These
numbers underscore the necessity for home violence assist companies, prevention
packages, and assist for the victims.

Serving to Abuse Survivors Keep Related

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

• More Than a Phone – Companions with home violence shelters to supply free sensible telephones and knowledge. 
• Free Government Cell Phones – Discover out about Lifeline and the Reasonably priced Connectivity Program to see in case you qualify for a free cellphone. 
• Verizon Hopeline – Partnered with home violence packages to supply free cell telephones to abuse victims.

HopeLine® from Verizon was a undertaking that supported quite a few home violence
packages and the individuals they serve. By accumulating beforehand owned cell telephones,
batteries, and equipment, they refurbished and recycled the gadgets,
protecting them out of landfills. Proceeds have been then used to fund native shelters and
present sources to assist increase consciousness of home violence and supply
sources for prevention and sufferer restoration.

Why Home Violence Victims Want Telephones

Having a cellphone generally is a lifeline for victims of home violence. It permits them to contact family and friends, be in contact with shelter and assist companies, and name 911 if needed. To make this attainable, 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 purchasers.

In actual fact, 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. Regardless that this system is not energetic, you possibly can nonetheless name the Nationwide Home Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for added assist and assist.

How the Hopeline Program Labored

Hopeline did not settle for financial donations, however reasonably recycled outdated telephones. Cash from refurbished telephones offered grants to varied home violence packages. In actual fact, 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 in the course of the course of this system. These telephones gave survivors a method to hook up with the skin world which was past the management of their abuser. 

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

Individuals have been additionally capable of sponsor a telephone drive of their neighborhood to gather used telephones.
Their assist helped proceed to place cell telephones within the fingers of home
violence victims and increase sources 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 undertaking since 1995 when the corporate was known as Bell Atlantic Cell. Again then, this system donated wi-fi telephones for home violence victims and voicemail packing containers for girls residing in shelters.

Since 2001, Verizon donated a whole lot of hundreds 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 scenario for the surroundings and victims of home violence. 

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

If you’re in an abusive relationship, these articles can assist:

1. Divorce
   

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2. Abusive Relationships
   

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3. Hopeline Program