Rihanna Just Donated $2.1 Million to Domestic Violence Victims Affected by the Quarantine

Abby Gardner
·2 min read

Rihanna has stepped up in so many different ways to give back to those most in need right now because of the coronavirus.

Her Clara Lionel Foundation gave $5 million to relief efforts in marginalized communities. She donated personal protective equipment (PPE) to front line workers in New York. And now Rihanna is giving another $2.1 million to help fund a grant for victims of domestic abuse affected by the quarantine. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey will add another $2.1 million to the grant for the Mayor’s Fund of Los Angeles.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, a rep for Rihanna’s foundation said the money will be directed toward “10 weeks of expenses for shelter, meals, and counseling for individuals and children suffering from domestic violence at a time when shelters are full and incidents are reportedly on the rise.” The Los Angeles Housing Authority said, per a press release, that about 90 people per week have been turned away from shelters in L.A. since the shelter-at-home restrictions started in mid-March. At approximately $125 per day, the grant covers housing and food for 90 applicants per week, with an additional 90 people every week after that for 10 weeks.

Victims of domestic abuse are in a uniquely difficult situation right now as we’re being told to stay at home. “The reality is home is not a safe place if you’re with an abusive partner,” Kelly Starr, public affairs director with the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, told Glamour. “Isolation that provides us safety from the virus is isolation that can make an abusive situation more dangerous.”

She added, “Access to money and finances and resources are really critical for people to have options to find safety. And we’re seeing those things shrink. That leaves people stuck and without options.”

Hopefully, thanks to Rihanna and Dorsey, women will have better access to the resources they need to keep themselves and their children safe.

Originally Appeared on Glamour