Keisha’s fresh start

Keisha and her young daughters Zara and Imani arrived at Mary’s Place carrying only what fit in their backpacks, they had fled an abusive situation at a moment’s notice.

Their situation, sadly, was not uncommon. Thirty-eight percent of all domestic violence victims become homeless at some point in their lives with fifty-seven percent of women experiencing homelessness reporting domestic violence as the immediate cause of their homelessness.* For many, fleeing abuse means sacrificing their home, financial stability, transportation, and possessions. Many survivors of domestic violence are financially dependent on their abuser, often by the latter’s design, and coping with abuse can lead to poor rental, credit, and employment histories that make it hard for survivors to qualify for rental housing.

For Keisha and her daughters, leaving behind an abusive situation meant sacrificing most of their belongings, including essential documents needed to rebuild their lives and find a new stable housing situation. But from the moment they walked through the doors of Mary’s Place, Keisha was met with safety, compassion, and the support she needed to take her first deep breath in months.

Thanks to the resources provided by our generous community, our team was able to immediately provide clean sheets, cozy blankets, clothes, shoes, and other essentials for Keisha and her daughters, helping them feel comfortable and safe to begin healing. They helped her obtain vital documents, like birth certificates and social security cards, and worked to get Zara and Imani enrolled in school, restoring stability to their young lives.

With these initial hurdles overcome and our housing specialists' continued guidance, Keisha secured a small apartment in a new neighborhood where she felt safe to begin rebuilding their lives. Today, Zara and Imani are thriving in their new school, and Keisha has found work she loves at a local grocery store.

Keisha’s journey reminds us that a fresh start takes more than just shelter—it requires a community ready to help families rebuild piece by piece!

*Gleaned from the ACLU, American Bar Association and the National Network to End Domestic Violence