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Building Community Trust and Delivering $7M in Support to Survivors of Domestic Violence with Los Angeles County


Program Overview

The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) partnered with FORWARD to launch the Empower_u Fund, a groundbreaking program that provides direct financial aid and wraparound services to survivors of domestic violence.


From the start, Empower_u’s success was evident: demand in the first round far exceeded available funding, highlighting the urgent need for accessible, equitable support. To meet this demand, Los Angeles County expanded the program, securing new funding and increasing the number of community partners with each round.


  • Round 1: 1,000 grants totaling $2.5M with five CBO partners

  • Round 2: 350 grants totaling $875K with three CBO partners

  • Round 3: 1,430 grants totaling $3.575M with seven CBO partners


Total Impact: Empower_u has now administered 2,780 grants totaling $6.95M in collaboration with 10 community-based organizations, scaling its reach and impact with each phase.


Challenges

  • Diverse Survivor Needs: Survivors came from BIPOC, immigrant, and LGBTQIA+ communities, each requiring culturally responsive and safe support.

  • Equitable Distribution: The County needed to allocate funds quickly, securely, and fairly while maintaining compliance.

  • Program Scalability: Meeting high demand while ensuring efficiency and participant trust.


FORWARD Solutions

  • Inclusive Co-Design with CBOs: Empower_u was designed with deep input from community-based organizations, ensuring the program reflected lived experience and built trust among survivors.

  • Accessible Technology: A multilingual application portal (68 languages) with call, text, and email support reduced barriers to entry.

  • Streamlined Administration: Centralized intake, eligibility review, fraud prevention, payment distribution, and reporting powered by FORWARD Sync.

  • Secure Payment Enablement: Partnership with Blackhawk Network to distribute prepaid cards while protecting survivor identities and enabling detailed spending analysis.


Outcomes

  • Expanded Reach: 2,780 survivors supported with $6.95M in direct financial aid.

  • Wraparound Support: More than 5,000 additional services delivered through trusted CBO partners.

  • Equitable Access: 92% of applicants identified as BIPOC; 69% were between ages 25–44.

  • Community Trust: CBO partnership ensured survivors felt safe and supported, while increasing awareness of county resources by 350%.

  • Proven Impact: Most funds went toward essentials like rent, utilities, and food; zero cases of fraud reported across all rounds.


Voices from the Community

“Receiving the $2,500 grant has helped with medical costs, moving supplies, and other essentials. This grant came at a time when I was about to give up hope—it has given me the strength to keep going.”

Empower_u Grant Recipient


“Empower_u has changed everything—our survivors feel seen and heard. This program has been one of the most wonderful experiences we’ve had as a partner.”

Empower_u Grant Recipient


Looking Ahead

The success of Empower_u demonstrates what is possible when public agencies, community-based organizations, and technology come together. By including CBOs in program design and expanding with each round, Los Angeles County has built a model for delivering relief with speed, equity, and compassion. As funding continues, Empower_u is poised to serve even more residents, driving long-term stability and hope for survivors across the county.



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