Bradley Angle is proud to announce that as of July 1, 2015, we have raised our minimum wage to $15 an hour, making us one of the first direct service organizations in the Portland area to do so. We are also happy to announce today that we have joined the Raise the Wage coalition, a growing group of workers, nonprofits, community groups, and business owners committed to giving workers a much-needed raise in 2016.

At a time when many people are struggling to make ends meet and when the economy is a worry for countless Americans, we see it as our responsibility to ensure that all employees are paid a more livable wage.

“It has always been our intention to support our own employees by providing them with a more livable wage. We’re grateful to now be in a position to do so,” says JoAnn Kohl, Bradley Angle’s board chair.

Bradley Angle empowers survivors of domestic violence economically by hosting financial literacy programs and offering program participants opportunities to build their credit. With a $15 minimum wage, Bradley Angle can help to bring that same sense of empowerment to its hardworking employees.

“As an organization committed to building opportunities for economic security for survivors of domestic violence, it was important for us to make a commitment to offer a more realistic minimum wage for our own staff. We are proud we were able to accomplish this in advance of minimum wage legislation, and grateful to our community supporters for making it possible,” says Executive Director Deborah Steinkopf.

Kohl also stated that “the number one reason survivors stay in abusive relationships is lack of financial resources.  Thus, economic empowerment is a critical part of our work in helping survivors rebuild their lives.”

Bradley Angle hopes that raising the minimum wage for our staff will encourage other employers of survivors in our community to do the same.