Amy's Story: Surviving Domestic Violence
Amy’s name and some details have been changed for privacy and safety.
Amy was employed part-time, but still relied on cash assistance, food stamps, and other public benefits to support her family. She wanted to find a job that paid more so she could afford to leave her abusive partner but was denied support for childcare costs for her younger child. Limited childcare options made it very difficult to find gainful employment. Feeling out of options, Amy fled to the shelter system, so her family was safe until she found steady work.
The city referred her to PEC. Her PEC case manager helped Amy develop her own goals and a plan to become independent. She also helped Amy craft a safety plan in case her abuser located them. Amy found a job, but when her schedule allowed, she attended CPCY programs like Nurturing Parenting, offered by our affiliate Youth Service, Inc. (YSI). Amy was able to enroll her youngest child temporarily in YSI’s crisis nursery.
And then her fear became a reality – despite all the precautions, her abuser located and threatened her. “I remembered my safety plan,” Amy said. She and her case manager put it into action. They were able to move faster on the housing search, and her family moved to another location. PEC was able to assist by connecting her to a furniture donation program. When she said good-bye to staff, she added, “I learned so much. I don’t have to let someone hurt me. I can have a great job. My kids are excited and happy. We all have hope again.”
Amy was employed part-time, but still relied on cash assistance, food stamps, and other public benefits to support her family. She wanted to find a job that paid more so she could afford to leave her abusive partner but was denied support for childcare costs for her younger child. Limited childcare options made it very difficult to find gainful employment. Feeling out of options, Amy fled to the shelter system, so her family was safe until she found steady work.
The city referred her to PEC. Her PEC case manager helped Amy develop her own goals and a plan to become independent. She also helped Amy craft a safety plan in case her abuser located them. Amy found a job, but when her schedule allowed, she attended CPCY programs like Nurturing Parenting, offered by our affiliate Youth Service, Inc. (YSI). Amy was able to enroll her youngest child temporarily in YSI’s crisis nursery.
And then her fear became a reality – despite all the precautions, her abuser located and threatened her. “I remembered my safety plan,” Amy said. She and her case manager put it into action. They were able to move faster on the housing search, and her family moved to another location. PEC was able to assist by connecting her to a furniture donation program. When she said good-bye to staff, she added, “I learned so much. I don’t have to let someone hurt me. I can have a great job. My kids are excited and happy. We all have hope again.”
COVID IMPACT
We are proud of our nimble response to meet our communities’ most pressing needs during the Coronavirus pandemic, including:
And we received regional recognition for these efforts—as a 2020 Citizen’s Bank Champions in Action Finalist!
- Providing services and housing for families like Sandra, Greta, and Nalda's and bringing them home!
- Delivering over 88,000 1-week supplies of groceries to families, youth and elderly residents in need—7x more than in all of last year.
- Partnering with Youth Service, Inc. to provide 600 backpacks with supplies and tech equipment to ensure kids have the support they need to succeed in school whether virtual or face-to-face.
- Loaning 75 computers to shelter residents, youth, and neighbors in need through our digital lending library, along with training to use the devices and adapt to an increasingly digital world successfully and safely. And,
- Partnering with medical professionals to provide access to critical preventive healthcare for residents and neighbors amid the pandemic.
And we received regional recognition for these efforts—as a 2020 Citizen’s Bank Champions in Action Finalist!