Tampa Bay Abortion Fund Shares Impacts of Florida’s Six-Week Abortion Ban After Six Months
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TAMPA, Fla — Nov. 1, 2024 — Today marks six months since Florida’s six-week abortion ban went into effect. Since May 1, Tampa Bay Abortion Fund and the callers it serves has faced a vast array of new financial, logistical, and emotional challenges to abortion access.
Tampa Bay Abortion Fund (TBAFund) funds appointment costs for people seeking abortions at select Tampa Bay-area clinics as well as travel and appointment costs for Tampa Bay residents forced to travel out of state for their abortion. The number of TBAFund callers who have sought care out of state between May 1 and November 1, 2024, is triple the number who went out of state between January 1 and April 30, 2024.
“Florida’s six-week ban has made accessing care significantly more difficult for abortion-seekers,” says Bree Wallace, TBAFund’s director of case management. “No one should have to travel thousands of miles from their home for care that could be received in their own city but is inaccessible solely because of politicians’ choices.”
Since May 1, TBAFund has pledged:
- Over $346,000 in appointment costs
- More than $55,000 in practical support, such as airfare and hotel stays for callers traveling out of state, averaging $800 per caller who requested it
- For 739 callers
This comes on the heels of what was already shaping up to be a record year for TBAFund. From January 1 to November 1, 2024, TBAFund has pledged:
- Over $630,000 in appointment costs
- More than $80,000 in practical support
- For over 1,500 callers
Florida’s post-six-week ban landscape has coincided with cuts to abortion funding from national organizations. This has placed even more of a financial burden on abortion-seekers, in turn creating an even greater need for abortion funds. TBAFund’s average pledge for appointment costs per caller has grown from $340 in 2023 to $430 today.
“While we and abortion funds around the state are doing our best to fill the gaps, the need is currently outpacing our resources,” adds Wallace. “Without financial support, people can’t afford their appointments or to travel to their appointments, forcing them to continue pregnancies they don’t want or that put them at risk. Even if Amendment 4 passes on November 5, funding will continue to be a massive hurdle to abortion access in Florida.”
TBAFund is committed to funding abortions for Tampa Bay residents now and into the future. The fund is launching its end-of-year fundraiser on November 11, with an initial goal of $50,000. To give to TBAFund’s end-of-year campaign or set up a monthly contribution, visit the Donorbox campaign page.
For more information about TBAFund, become a volunteer, or to get assistance with abortion funding or practical support, visit tbafund.com. Learn more about TBAFund’s upcoming events on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
ABOUT TAMPA BAY ABORTION FUND:
Tampa Bay Abortion Fund removes financial and logistical barriers to abortion access. It specifically assists pregnant people needing support seeking abortion at abortion providers in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. TBAFund also supports Tampa Bay residents receiving care at our partner clinics outside of Florida.
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CONTACT:
McKenna Kelley
Tampa Bay Abortion Fund 