ABORTION FUNDING

Unlike family planning services, there are few resources available for low-income and uninsured women seeking to end a pregnancy.  Medicaid covers abortion only in rare cases. Government funding for abortion is non-existent, and very few foundations fund abortion services.  Women's Health believes that all women -- regardless of income -- deserve access to the same services. We seek to ensure abortion access through two programs funded solely through individual contributions: the Reproductive Equality Fund and Club 95.

 

REPRODUCTIVE EQUALITY FUND: Providing Access to Abortion for Low-Income Women

Linda, a divorced mother of two teenagers, came to Women’s Health this summer for help. Her ex-husband no longer lives in the area, and pays no child support. In fact, his whereabouts are unknown. A few months ago, Linda was sexually assaulted by a member of her own family and became pregnant. With a single exception, the family members in whom she confided refused to believe her. In the rural agricultural community where she lives, there is no abortion provider. Not knowing where to turn, she whispered to a clerk in a convenience store, "Is there anywhere I can get help?" The clerk angrily denounced her, stating her own anti-abortion convictions. Two more weeks passed – weeks of anguish and worry. Finally, Linda took another risk. She phoned an old friend who lived in Boulder County. The friend told her about Boulder Valley Women’s Health Center. Linda had managed to save half the cost of the procedure, and was relieved when a clinic staff person told her about our Reproductive Equality Fund, which provides financial assistance to women in need of abortion services. Her younger brother – her only supporter – drove her to the clinic on the day of her appointment. Linda cried with gratitude after the procedure. "Thank God you’re here," she told us, "because I had nowhere else to turn."

 

During the last few years as the economy has worsened, Women’s Health requests for financial assistance for abortion services have tripled. Those who have lost jobs have also lost medical coverage. Young single moms – no degree, no job skills, no job — find themselves unemployed and without resources when their federal benefits run out. An unintended pregnancy in circumstances such as these can seem an insurmountable disaster.

 

Women Health’s Reproductive Equality Fund (REF) helps ensure that low-income and uninsured women have the same access to abortion services as women with resources.

All funding for REF comes from private donations. We work with each applicant to reach a collaborative agreement – including how much she can raise or borrow and how much our REF fund will contribute. We stretch every REF dollar to the utmost! Still, the number of requests for financial assistance grows and grows.

 

Right now, your contribution to REF is urgently needed and most appreciated. To support abortion access for low-income women, designate your donation to "REF."

 

 

CLUB 95:  Bridging the Gap for Women in Need

Stella is a stay-at-home mother of two. Her husband is on a framing crew building homes, but lately, work has been slow and he’s lucky to work fifteen hours a week. They are already behind in their rent and have no credit cards, and no family or friends to borrow from. Stella was distraught when she learned she was pregnant and was grateful to learn of Women’s Health Reproductive Equality Fund (REF), which could assist her in raising the $395 needed for an abortion.

Unfortunately, in order to make our REF money stretch to serve the greatest number of women, REF assistance is capped at $200 per person. Women in need can sometimes get an additional $100 from the Freedom Fund of First Universalist Church in Denver. That leaves a gap of $95 which each woman must raise on her own. Tragically, some women do not keep their abortion appointment because they are unable to beg or borrow the last $95.

In response to this need, concerned Women's Health supporters formed "Club 95" -- a group of people willing to be contacted in an emergency, no more than once a year, to provide the last portion of funding that women like Stella urgently need.

Club 95 ensures that no woman is forced to continue an unwanted pregnancy solely because she lacks $95.  To join, designate your donation to "Club 95."

 

 

For more information on either of these programs, contact Brook at

303-440-9320, ext. 11 or brook@bvwhc.org.