WHY THIS WORK EXISTS
This work is grounded in lived experience and a deep understanding of how domestic abuse and financial control evolve within systems.
Before this became an organization, it was something that had to be navigated firsthand.
WHAT WE DO
Many women experiencing domestic abuse are also navigating financial control, often without access to the resources they need to leave or move forward.
They turn to the legal system for help, but it requires properly framed arguments, which are difficult to access without the financial resources to hire counsel or meet basic needs for themselves and their children.
This creates a double bind: you need support to access your rights, but you need access to your rights to get support.
In many cases, the issue is not just what is happening. It is how the situation is being understood.
We help bridge that gap so your situation can be understood clearly, allowing you to move forward with greater stability and direction.
WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE IN PRACTICE
WHO WE HELP
Women Pregnant
and Navigating Alone
Stay-at-Home Mothers
Experiencing Financial Control
Women Who Have Left
and Are Facing Financial Instability
HOW WE HELP
Document Preparation
and Court Support
Support with organizing documents, understanding court processes, and navigating the system with greater clarity and structure.
Resource Navigation
and Financial Planning
Guidance in accessing resources, understanding your financial situation, and creating a path toward stability.
Support
and Capacity Building
Support to help you stay grounded, understand what’s happening, and respond in a way that protects you as you move forward.
ABOUT
I’m Crystal Fedeli, a social researcher and policy analyst focused on coercive control in the context of domestic abuse, including how the family court system responds and how those responses shape outcomes over time. I’m also the Founder and Executive Director of You Made a Way.
I’ve seen how financial control and lack of access to resources shape outcomes for women navigating the legal system.
My work focuses on helping women understand what’s happening, navigate the legal system and financial barriers, and move forward so they can rebuild their lives.
