Fuel Assistance Program

Traveling across the state or the country requires gas, and that's not always affordable for someone leaving an abusive relationship. Studies report more than 90% of domestic abuse cases involve some degree of financial control and abuse. If saving cash for fuel is not an option, consider the risk of using a debit or credit card shared with the abuser. An abusive partner may monitor your transactions to know where you are going, or disable the card's use leaving you stuck. Families to Freedom offers a solution!

Fueling Your Freedom

We offer two ways to help you drive far away to safety:

• Enough fuel to drive to available shelter located 50+ miles away going outside of the DFW Metroplex or Greater Houston area
• A fuel card to drive to another state for family or shelter

Victims referred by a domestic violence program, law enforcement, or CPS social worker take priority for service. The fuel card works like a debit card at a majority of gas stations across the United States. The card is only valid for the purchase of regular unleaded fuel (or diesel) at most gas station brands. Food and mechanical needs will be your responsibility.

For those traveling to another state with a fuel card, we will monitor fuel transactions to ensure your card remains actively available during your entire journey. Once the card is used 200 miles or less from your destination city, the card will be deactivated.

Limitations: Only one vehicle can be fueled for your relocation. Families to Freedom cannot pay for or rent a moving vehicle for you. "Big rig" moving trucks are not eligible for fuel assistance. Our volunteers are not able to move your furniture or help load items for liability reasons. Fuel assistance is provided only one time.

Criteria for Fuel Assistance

Our Fuel Assistance Program is currently only available to those leaving the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex or Houston metro area going to a destination 50 or more miles leaving the metro area. To qualify you must:

1. Be planning to leave, or have recently left, an abusive relationship, sexual assault, family violence or sex trafficking situation
2. Request service in advance by at least one day
3. Be willing to meet at a gas station of our choice in or near Dallas-Ft. Worth or Houston
4. Have a civic professional confirm your need such as law enforcement, shelter counselor, medical professional, CPS social worker, etc.
5. Be willing to let us verify your destination receiving person, whether it's friend, family or to a safety program
6. Must be willing to disclose vehicle information before travel including the license plate (unless using a rental vehicle)
7. Be packed and leaving town immediately after the initial fuel is provided

Pay it forward to the next caller by mailing your card back to be reused. We'll provide a pre-addressed envelope to make it easier for you.

We Support Moving Away

For those with the means to rent a moving truck, we will support the cost of gas needed to drive far away. Families to Freedom cannot pay for the rental of a moving vehicle or trailer, only for the fuel used to relocate. To keep our fuel assistance program available for all the survivors who will need this service through the year, we must limit the size of moving trucks we can support. Truck sizes 20 foot or less are supported for fuel assistance. Only one vehicle can receive fuel assistance; therefore, if you have another vehicle also traveling, you must choose which one vehicle will receive fuel assistance. We also support fuel assistance if you are towing a trailer behind your own vehicle. Volunteers and staff are unable to assist with packing or loading. For more information or a discussion to help you plan your exit, call our hotline at 833-903-7233 during normal business hours.

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