SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of the
UN's 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence,
Uber (NYSE:UBER) and Canary, an organization offering access
to emergency funds in times of financial need, with support
from FreeFrom, a national organization working to create pathways
to financial security and long-term safety for survivors of
gender-based violence, announced today the creation of a new fund
to assist drivers and delivery people who have been affected by
domestic or intimate partner violence*.
According to experts, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 2 transgender
people experience physical and/or sexual violence and
harassment by a current or former intimate partner in their
lifetime. Additionally, the pandemic has created even more
barriers for survivors, with many experiencing increased risk
and few safe options to access resources.
"Domestic violence is a devastatingly common issue that touches
people across geographic, cultural and economic boundaries and
experts tell us the pandemic has only made it worse," said
Tony West, executive vice president
and chief legal officer of Uber. "We want to help ensure that
drivers and delivery people on the Uber platform who are impacted
by domestic violence can easily access resources that will help
them on their path to safety."
The Path to Safety Grant Circle
is a cash grant program operated by Canary, and funded by Uber.
Drivers or delivery people who are actively earning on the Uber
platform and have experienced domestic violence that has led to
financial hardship can request funds to and start building the
financial security they need to get and stay safe. Requests can be
made by going to pathtosafety.grantcircles.org.
"Cash grants are a powerful tool to help individuals cover costs
for what they need most—frequently essentials like food or
shelter—in moments of crisis. This need is heightened for survivors
of domestic violence, most of whom also experience economic abuse,"
says Canary CEO and co-founder, Rachel
Schneider. "Canary is pleased to partner with Uber and
FreeFrom to help survivors access funds with dignity. This fund
will help us all learn more about how companies can meaningfully
support employees experiencing crises."
"Every company operating in the U.S. engages survivors, whether
they're aware of it or not. It's time for the private sector to
step up and start being part of the solution to ending domestic
violence," said Amy Durrence,
Director of Systems Change Initiatives at FreeFrom. "We were so
excited to support on the Path to Safety Fund because we know that
survivors identify cash to spend as they see fit as their #1 most
urgent need to get and stay safe during the pandemic. We hope that
more companies will follow suit and begin offering this type of
essential support for their staff, independent contractors, and
others they engage."
Individuals can utilize the funds for any specific needs they
have but resources are typically used to address short-term needs
like housing, food, utilities, emergency travel, out-of-pocket
medical expenses, and child care costs. The application and
identity of those seeking funds will be kept anonymous. Uber will
not know that an individual has applied for a grant.
Financial insecurity is cited as the number one obstacle to
safety for survivors of domestic violence with 99% of
survivors subjected to economic abuse** as part of their
experience. As a flexible earning opportunity, Uber has seen an
increase in the number of women who earn on the Uber app of nearly
80% since the beginning of 2021 and more than 40% of Uber Eats
delivery drivers in the US are women.
About Uber + Safety
Uber has been working with
gender-based violence prevention groups through its Driving Change
initiative which aims to raise awareness of and prevent
gender-based violence. During the pandemic, the company partnered
with domestic violence organizations and local governments in 35
cities across 16 countries to provide 50,000 free rides to shelters
and safe spaces and more than 45,000 free meals to survivors of
domestic violence. Uber has been a pioneer in safety technology
innovation and transparency issuing a first-of-its-kind Safety
Report in December 2019 to promote
improved safety in ridesharing and beyond.
About Canary
Canary is helping the 21st century
social net evolve to reflect the future of work. We exist to ensure
that individuals can access emergency support with dignity in times
of financial need, giving them the peace of mind and confidence to
recover quickly. Find out more at www.workwithcanary.com.
About FreeFrom
FreeFrom is an organization focused on
the economic impact of gender-based violence. The FreeFrom team is
made up of queer, trans, im/migrant, and BIPOC survivors, building
towards a world in which all survivors are able to build the wealth
and financial security necessary to support their individual,
intergenerational, and community healing and thriving. Learn
more about FreeFrom and their work on their website here.
24/7 access to support and resources are available for
individuals that are affected by domestic violence through the
National Domestic Violence Hotline at
https://www.thehotline.org/
*"Domestic or intimate partner violence," for purposes of this
fund, means any physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, and/or
economic abuse or control by a spouse, partner/significant other,
co-parent, family member (related by blood or marriage), or
housemate.
**Economic abuse happens when a person controls a survivor's access
to their own economic resources (for example: cash, credit,
property, their job).
CONTACT: press@uber.com
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SOURCE Uber