3 Moving Tips for Domestic Abuse Survivors

 

If you’ve just left an abusive relationship, don’t worry, you’re not alone. In fact, 1 in 3 women have been victims of some sort of physical violence by an intimate partner, according to the NCADV (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence). Right now, it may be hard to think about moving, but the truth is, you need to get out of your current abusive situation and into safety. To help you navigate this hard situation, we’re here to give you some tips so that you can start to build a new life where you feel safe.

Get to a safe location

An exit plan is a necessity to have for when you decide to leave your relationship. Getting away safely is critical because often the abusive partner lashes out when a victim tries to leave. While you’re in your relationship, keep a journal and write down every single time that abuse happened. Take photos of the physical evidence, in case you need to prove it in the future. Figure out where you’re going to go and the details of how you’re going to get there. Are you going to go to a local women’s shelter or a close friend’s house? Are you going to take your car or have someone pick you up? If you decide to drive your own car, make sure your gas tank is full. Make sure you have money saved up in case you need to stay at a hotel for a while.

Don’t forget to pack a bag with your ID, birth certificate, credit cards, Social Security card, clothes, marriage license, and any other belongings you may need. Before you leave, erase your Internet browsing history. If you want to create a false trail for your significant other, you can call real estate agents and hotels at least four to six hours from where you plan to move.

 Find a new area to live

 Figure out what cities you want to live in. Look into the safest areas to reside in those cities. What is your budget, and what are these homes going to cost? We recommend moving out of the city you’re currently in, in order to make it more difficult for your abuser to find you or contact you. Don’t consider anywhere that you’ve talked about with your abuser or anything that’s too obvious. This could increase the odds of them finding you in your new city. Moving can be very expensive, but there are some moving companies that offer free services to domestic abuse survivors, so do your research. They will ensure you get to your new location safely, no matter how much money you have.

 Don’t rush the home-buying process

You’ve already been through so much, and moving is only adding to your stress. On top of that, it can be a stressful process buying a new home, so don’t feel like you have to buy one immediately. If you need to save up money or decide on an area you can start a new life, you can rent an apartment or stay in a hotel until you decide if you want to buy.

When you’re in an abusive relationship, it’s important to get away safely as soon as you can. Then, you can start to build a new life for yourself and start to heal your body, mind, and heart.

 

SafeHouse is committed to supporting victims of domestic violence and getting them the help they need. Call (205) 669-7233 to speak to a trained advocate.

 

Special thanks to our guest blogger, Nora, from threedaily.org. 

Photo: Unsplash