Anne's Support Group Advocate and peers in her support group validated her experience, taught her about the cycles of domestic violence and assured her—contrary to what her abusive spouse had long told her--that she wasn’t crazy. “Our group leader nurtured us with truth, support and kindness until we could stand on our own.”

My Support Group helped me see that violence in the home is not normal and that my life didn’t have to be that way.

My husband’s abuse slowly ratcheted up for a few years. I kept telling myself that I had to be strong or else my son would grow up without a father.

Without anywhere else to go, I entered Shelter as a last resort.

Alexandria and her daughter Katie arrived safety at Shelter, both with visible wounds including a broken arm, black eye, cigarette burns, and a 12 inch laceration requiring staples and stitches. Alexandria was hesitant to interact with staff and was even more hesitant to allow her child to engage with other children, staff, and group programming at Shelter.