How COVID-19 Impacts Our Clients

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an awful health and economic impact on our country. And survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault are no exception.

COVID-19 has harmed Life Span clients in too many ways. Here are six examples shared by Life Span counselors and attorneys; client names have been changed to protect privacy.

“Magdalena,” living separately from her abuser, was self-employed, cleaning houses in Chicago’s northwest suburbs. She has not worked since March 17 and is not eligible for unemployment benefits. Family members are helping her with some expenses, and she is not sure when families will allow her back into their homes to work.

“Josie” works as an office clerk in a private high school, one that is physically open for students. But her children are doing remote learning, so she took COVID family leave, and is now receiving just a fraction of her prior salary.

“Wanda” works at a gym and was furloughed until last week. She is now back, albeit with reduced hours, and she worries about contracting the virus at her job. Members of her church had been helping with her expenses.

“Rebecca” had been working two part-time jobs and raising her daughters. Both jobs cut her hours, so she no longer can afford a babysitter. With no other option, she made the difficult decision to allow her abuser into her home to care for her children. At first, he was a big help, but now he has begun to make degrading comments about her to her kids

“Lynn” was receiving adequate child support from her abuser, until three months ago when he lost his job as a manager of a live music club. She now doesn’t know where to turn.

“Angie” cares for her aging grandmother in her apartment, and shares custody of her two children with her abuser. She feels her abuser’s behavior is reckless – inviting large groups of friends over and not wearing masks in public, and is worried that he’ll expose the kids to COVID-19, who then may expose her grandmother.

Thank you for supporting our survivors.