A tool to support the financial autonomy of the people you work with.
As part of your work, you may support individuals whose financial autonomy is significantly hindered by credit-related barriers. These obstacles are often invisible, frequently complex, and rooted in the dynamics of economic violence, dependence, or systemic exclusion.
Credit isn’t just a number — it can open the door to housing, employment, and education… or act as a lock when damaged.
To better equip individuals into reclaiming their power to act, we’ve created this summary sheet. It offers concrete, realistic, and accessible action steps, designed with people facing instability and/or financial precarity in mind.
Purpose of the Sheet
To help each person:
- Better understand credit-related issues;
- Identify systemic or relational obstacles that limit their autonomy;
- Discover practical resources to rebuild their financial well-being, step by step.
For Professionals
This sheet can be used as:
- An educational support or reference tool during individual support or group workshops;
- A conversation starter to address economic violence in a non-stigmatizing way;
- A handout individuals can use to explore resources at their own pace.
Why Does This Matter?
Access to credit and financial autonomy is often the first step toward escaping violence or regaining control over one’s life. Without independent financial means, it is extremely difficult—if not impossible—to leave a violent situation or rebuild a life plan.
A damaged credit score, the absence of a bank account, or coercive debt (a debt incurred under pressure or in the victim’s name) can limit access to:
- Housing: Landlords often request a credit check before renting. A low score may lead to rejection, forcing some to stay in unsafe situations or return to abusive partners;
- Employment: Some employers check credit histories as part of the hiring process—especially in finance, security, or social work. A poor credit file can hurt employment prospects, even if the person is qualified;
- Education: Without a bank account, it becomes difficult to get a student loan, pay tuition, or even open an account to receive scholarships or benefits. This can hinder access to training and future job opportunities;
- A life free of financial dependence: Inability to open a credit card, secure a loan, or maintain a personal account can make someone financially dependent on others, potentially perpetuating the dynamics of control and abuse.
These issues disproportionately affect women, racialized individuals, newcomers, and survivors of intimate partner violence, who are already subject to systemic discrimination:
- Women, who often bear increased financial burdens when leaving abusive households;
- Racialized individuals who may face unfair credit denials or harsher conditions;
- Newcomers, whose financial histories aren’t recognized in Canada;
- Survivors of intimate partner violence, whose financial autonomy is often deliberately targeted as a control tactic.
Breaking the cycle of precarity means ensuring access to fair and inclusive financial tools. Supporting individuals in rebuilding their financial health helps restore their power over their own lives.
What’s Included in the Resource Sheet
- A plain-language definition of credit-related barriers;
- Concrete examples and consequences of economic violence;
- Accessible steps to rebuild financial autonomy (checking credit reports, secured cards, accessible bank accounts, etc.);
- Community and professional resources;
- Encouragement to reclaim one’s power.
How to Use This Tool
- Download or print the sheet and give it to individuals;
- Present it during one-on-one support or in group settings;
- Refer people to local resources (e.g., co-ops, legal aid, specialized practitioners).
Go Further
You can also partner with local organizations to offer financial literacy workshops or budget mediation services. Don’t hesitate to include this resource in your broader intervention strategies.
Specialized Support Services
Budget support and credit advice
- Option Consommateurs : free help for people with debt, credit, or budget issues
- Associations coopératives d’économie familiale – ACEF : Budget and debt counselling, rights advocacy — several offices across Montreal based on residency
- Credit Canada : credit counselling, debt consolidation, and financial education
Legal support
- YWCA Montreal Legal Information Clinic : helps women and their families understand their rights and navigate legal processes
- JuriPop : affordable or free legal support, including for debt, housing, divorce, or economic abuse.
- Éducaloi : clear tools and explanations on economic rights and legal options in Quebec
