Financial abuse occurs in 99% of domestic violence cases, and can include stealing money, credit, property, or identity from a partner. This traps people in abusive relationships, as the person causing harm forces their reliance on them to meet basic needs. Leaving a violent relationship can lead to homelessness: In California, 22% of unhoused individuals reported experiencing domestic violence according to the state’s Homeless Data Integration System (HDIS) demographic data. Historic and current discrimination makes recovering from financial abuse even more difficult for Black, Indigenous, and people of color.

A strong safety net reduces the likelihood of repeated violence because it enhances economic independence when escaping a violent situation, causing less reliance on the person causing harm. SB 975,co-sponsored by the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence, Public Law Center and the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, was written into law in 2022 and now provides the opportunity to seek relief from repaying coerced debts incurred by an abusive partner.

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Paid family leave policies have been shown to prevent violence from occurring in the first place by reducing economic stress, which is positively correlated with domestic violence. In 2023, SB 616 (sponsored by the California Work and Family Coalition), increased the number of paid sick days available to Californians from three to five. These sick days also count as safe days for job-protected time off to establish safety after abuse—including accessing services to escape and heal from violence.