Project: Croatian Women’s Fund
Established in 2019, SOLIDARNA Foundation’s Croatian Women’s Fund is the only fund in Croatia dedicated to providing direct financial assistance to women and children who have experienced gender-based violence. It helps cover essential costs such as housing, living expenses and legal fees, enabling survivors to build a safe and independent life after leaving violence. The Fund also supports women’s rights organizations and community initiatives.
Supports:
- Equality for All – Promote fairness across gender, age, choices and ability
- Community Wellbeing – Ensure healthy living and quality of life for all
The Problem
Leaving an abusive relationship is often a long and complex process. Research and organizations working with survivors of gender-based violence suggest that it can take an average of seven attempts over period of six years before a woman leaves permanently. Even then, leaving does not automatically mean reaching safety. Without affordable housing, a reliable income and resources to care for their children, women may face serious obstacles to building an independent life.
The Fund’s 2025 beneficiary analysis illustrates this gap. Among 67 survey respondents, 28 (41.8%) were renting accommodation, while only one (1.5%) owned her home. Twenty-five respondents (37.3%) reported being unemployed, while others described health-related or caregiving barriers to employment. Financial insecurity, legal proceedings and access to stable housing emerged as major challenges.
These findings point to a practical gap between leaving an abusive relationship and achieving lasting safety. A woman may leave her partner but still lack the money for a rental deposit, rent, utilities, transport, childcare or other essential costs. Without timely financial support, these pressures can make it harder to secure stable housing and rebuild an independent life.
Economic independence is therefore essential not only for leaving an abusive relationship, but also for remaining safe afterward. Timely financial assistance can help women meet basic living costs and begin rebuilding their lives, complementing the legal, psychological and social services provided by other organizations.
The Solution
The Croatian Women’s Fund provides direct, timely and needs-based financial support across Croatia to women and children affected by gender-based violence, particularly during the transition out of abusive environments or shelters.
Support is tailored to individual circumstances and can cover rent and utilities, food, clothing, children’s essentials, legal costs, healthcare, therapy, transportation, education and retraining. By helping meet these urgent expenses, the Fund gives women room to plan their next steps toward safety and economic independence.
An operational coordinator works with applicants, while the Fund’s Council decides on grants in accordance with the Fund’s Rulebook on the Award of Financial Support (Pravilnik o dodjeli financijskih potpora u sklopu Fonda).
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
SOLIDARNA – Foundation for Human Rights and Solidarity
www.solidarna.hr
Founded in 2015, SOLIDARNA Foundation is a Croatian philanthropic organization that protects and promotes human rights. We mobilize resources and connect individuals, civil society organizations, institutions and businesses to provide direct support to people and communities, strengthen civic initiatives, promote equal opportunities and build a culture of solidarity.