Sharisse Kimbro - Understanding Financial Abuse During Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Sharisse Kimbro, relationship abuse program officer at the Allstate Foundation, joins The Neil Haley Show during Domestic Violence Awareness Month to shed light on financial abuse, an often-overlooked form of domestic violence that affects nearly all survivors. Kimbro explains that while one in four women and one in seven men will experience domestic violence in their lifetime, almost all of them will also experience financial abuse—when one person tries to control, limit, or restrict another person's ability to use, acquire, or accumulate financial resources. She details various forms this abuse takes, including job interference through withholding transportation or excessively calling someone at work, forcing someone to take out credit card debt or taking out debt in their name without knowledge, and excessively monitoring spending or imposing allowances without consent. Most alarmingly, Kimbro reveals that survivors report having access to only $175 on average without their abuser's knowledge, making lack of financial resources the number one barrier to safety for those trying to leave abusive situations. In this crucial conversation, Kimbro emphasizes that financial abuse, along with emotional and psychological abuse, often serves as a precursor to more severe physical abuse that most people associate with domestic violence. She stresses the importance of mutual respect, trust, and accountability in healthy relationships, where both parties come to the table to make decisions together rather than one person making all decisions and imposing restrictions on the other. For friends and family, Kimbro advises watching for signs like someone being overly concerned about spending in a fearful way or excessively asking permission for small purchases, as these could indicate financial control. The conversation also addresses how financial abuse can manifest in different ways, including when one partner hides spending or resources, or spends everything recklessly, emphasizing that financial literacy plays a crucial role in preventing and addressing these issues. Kimbro's insights provide vital information for recognizing, understanding, and ultimately stopping the cycle of financial abuse in relationships.