For Immediate Release: June 7, 2023
Please contact: Claire Connolly, naf@berlinrosen.com
The country’s leading abortion hotline reported a 235% increase in plane or bus trips and a 195% increase in hotel room bookings over the next year. Dobbs
NATIONAL – Today, the National Abortion Federation, which operates the National Abortion Hotline—the leading multi-lingual abortion assistance hotline in the US—released updated numbers about Hotline-funded travel since the overthrow of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court on June 24, 2022. Compared to the same period last year, the Hotline has seen an unprecedented increase in the need for travel funding for iindividuals seeking abortion care. The National Abortion Hotline shares information about providers, case management services, and financial assistance to help them cover the cost of care and travel-related expenses.
From July 2022 – May 2023, The National Abortion Hotline helps pay for:
- 1,090 hotel rooms for individuals traveling to access abortion care compared to 369 in the same period last year (a 195% increase).
- 982 trips by plane, train, or bus compared to 293 in the same period last year (a 235% increase).
- 674 rideshares compared to 134 in the same period last year (a 403% increase).
Veronica Jones, Chief Operating Officer, National Abortion Federation said:
“Last year, we saw more people than ever before traveling to access care. This isn’t surprising, because abortion bans don’t reduce the need for abortion care – they just make it harder to access. A growing number of people are forced to travel across state lines to access abortion care, which can mean lost work, as well as additional costs for child care, hotels, food, and transportation . Unfortunately, even with the financial assistance and case management support we provide, far too many people are still unable to access abortion. Until we restore abortion rights for all and remove the barriers that have made access to abortion care so difficult even in the past Roe is withdrawn, there will always be people who do not have access to the care they want and need.
NAF is committed to helping anyone, regardless of their income, race, or zip code, access abortion care. Anyone in any state can call the NAF Hotline at 1-800-772-9100 to understand their options and get the help they need, whether it’s information about a provider, making travel arrangements to another state, or funding their care.”
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The National Abortion Federation is the nation’s largest and leading professional association of abortion providers. NAF represents hundreds of providers and clinics across the country who are on the frontlines of abortion access. NAF provides members with training, safety support, and guidelines that serve as the gold standard of abortion care. NAF also operates the National Abortion Hotline, the largest national, toll-free, multi-lingual hotline for abortion resources and travel and financial assistance in the US Learn more at https://prochoice.org
