Breaking the cycle of violence isn't easy. Every day La Casa works hard to let survivors like Grace* and Natasha* know they have options, a supportive community, and more strength than they may imagine.
Leaving an abusive partner may look like an obvious choice to an outsider, but breaking the cycle of violence is never easy. There are many ties that bind us – many elements to every relationship. At La Casa, we work hard every day to let survivors of all ages and backgrounds know they have options, a supportive community, and more strength than they may imagine.
Natasha
Natasha* and her family had experienced much violence in her home country. She fled with her young daughter seeking asylum in the US and lived with a family friend after crossing the border. A relationship soon followed.
Shortly thereafter, he became possessive. He constantly accused Natasha of cheating and threatened her by saying he was going to call the police and have immigration take her away. One day, after a male friend helped her park her car, her partner came home and accused her of having a relationship with him. Natasha tried to explain, but the argument kept escalating. He began to hit her. When her daughter tried to intervene, she got hit as well. With her daughter scared and crying, Natasha couldn’t take it anymore, and she called the police.
He was arrested, and FCS (Family and Children's Services) was notified of the incident. The police officer at the scene also called La Casa's crisis line. Natasha answered a few questions about her safety, and she then came into our confidential shelter.
Natasha was very afraid of what this incident would mean for her immigration case. La Casa informed her about the qualifying features of a U-Visa, and helped her connect with legal services to move her application forward. Natasha worked with her case manager to come up with a safety plan so she could safely retrieve some of her belongings a few days later. With her advocate's help, Natasha moved her daughter to a new school and successfully adjusted her work schedule so that she could keep her job and steady income.
After four weeks in shelter, Natasha found a room for rent. We helped her purchase the supplies she needed to settle in, and she and her daughter moved in to this new place where they feel safe. "I am grateful," she says. "I didn't know I could ask for help, and that anyone would listen."
*Identifiers changed to protect confidentiality.
Grace
The 8th time the police arrived at her door, Grace* was distraught. For the past 20 years, Grace's partner, the father of her children, had berated her, demanded the money she earned, destroyed her credit, and given her too many bruises to count. She didn't feel like she lived in fear every single day, but she was tired – physically and emotionally.
When Grace had tried to leave him in the past, her partner tracked her down, stalked her, sweetened her up, and then made her feel like no one else would ever have her. But Grace really didn't like the way he talked to the children and, sometimes, the rough way he treated them. She knew she wasn't the only one being harmed.
Her oldest daughter was in a relationship now, and Grace worried about what "love" looked like in her home and the behaviors her daughter had learned to put up with.
So, she agreed to talk with an Advocate. The police officer connected Grace to La Casa's Crisis Line, and soon she was gathering up some of her family's belongings to bring with them to La Casa's confidentially-located shelter. Inside that safe space, Grace and her children began to process their trauma, access counseling, and seek help to move forward with their new healthier lives.
*Grace and her family's journey to safety is just beginning. Identifiers altered to protect confidentiality.
Asking for help takes a lot of courage, and taking steps into a new life is not easy.
La Casa is here 24 hours a day, with an active Drop In Counseling Center and 6 access points across San Francisco to make connecting to support as easy as possible.
Help us build a safer tomorrow, today. Every dollar you give will makes a crucial difference and a tangible impact.
$2,500 = Breakfast for 6 months for our emergency shelter
$1,000 = 50 crisis calls and texts answered
$500 = Safety planning and options counseling for 10 survivors
$250 = Emergency transportation for 10 families to safety
$100 = 24 hours of safety and 3 meals for a mother and their child at shelter