Chicago to offer $1,000 to self-identified sexual assault victims, no proof required.

Ashe SchowJune 23, 2023

Chicago Mayor’s Office Offers Cash Assistance to Survivors of Gender-Based Violence

The Chicago mayor’s office has launched a new initiative to support survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. Through this program, individuals can apply for a $1,000 cash grant to help them in their recovery.

Mayor Brandon Johnson, a Democrat, recently announced a $5 million fund dedicated to assisting survivors of gender-based violence. The initiative aims to provide financial support without requiring survivors to provide evidence of their experiences.

“In its commitment to trauma-informed practices, survivors will not be asked for evidence of survivorship, but will be asked to self-attest, or instead provide a connection to an advocate or service provider,” stated the mayor’s office in a press release.

To be eligible for the funds, applicants must have an income at or below 300% of the poverty level. This means that a single person should have an annual income of $40,770 or less, while a family of eight can earn up to $139,890.

The pilot program for this initiative received 1,000 applications, and as of early May, 733 individuals had already received their cash assistance. The program has seen participation from diverse communities, with 35% of applicants identifying as Latino and 47% identifying as black.

While this initiative aims to provide much-needed support, some concerns have been raised about the potential for false accusations. Defense attorney Scott Greenfield expressed his apprehension, stating, “On the one hand, free money for claiming to be a ‘survivor.’ On the other hand, great incentive for false accusations. What could possibly go wrong?”

“In its commitment to trauma-informed practices, survivors will not be asked for evidence of survivorship…”

On the one hand, free money for claiming to be a “survivor.” On the other hand, great incentive for false accusations.

What could possibly go wrong? https://t.co/aw6GGruNMQ

— Scott Greenfield (@ScottGreenfield) June 21, 2023

It is important to acknowledge that false accusations do occur, as highlighted in a Daily Wire article. However, it is crucial to consider that the statistics often cited refer to proven false accusations reported to the police. There are various categories of sexual assault cases, including those without enough evidence for an arrest or cases where an arrest is not made due to external factors. Therefore, it is challenging to determine the prevalence of false accusations accurately.

While concerns about false claims exist, it is unlikely that the Chicago mayor’s office will release information that could expose any potential fraudulent applications. The focus remains on providing support to survivors and helping them rebuild their lives.