Financial Abuse & Coerced Debt

Coerced Debt

Survivors of domestic violence face numerous obstacle to becoming safe and rebuilding their lives. Even after personal safety challenges are addressed, recent studies have found that economic abuse, in the form of coerced debt, lingers — through bad credit caused by the abuser. Coerced debt is debt incurred by an abuser, in the name of a victim of domestic violence, through threat, force or fraud. It is a form of coercive control, identity theft, and economic abuse.  Consumer reports and credit scores impact vast parts of our economic lives, from the ability to rent an apartment and get a job, to the cost of insurance and credit. By expanding awareness of coerced debt and its impacts on survivors of domestic violence, as well as promoting policy solutions to address this growing problem, we can offer key economic support to survivors of domestic violence to gain, maintain or rebuild, financial security. >> Visit the Project Page

 Protecting Seniors from Financial Abuse

As our population continues to age and grow, a myriad of social and economic issues face the more than 3 million people over the age of 65 living in Texas today. These include financial abuse, limited housing, limited mental health care options, and guardianship concerns. Texas Appleseed partnered with Baker Botts LLP to do initial research to determine what issues are most pressing for Texas' seniors and identified the issues of financial exploitation and housing/home care. Our first resource addresses the issue of financial exploitation — consumer-friendly guides that are easy to understand and explain common terms financial caregivers would need to know. >> Visit the Project Page