stories of fxbg: Maria’s Story

Stories of fredericksburg

Maria’s Story

From the Files of Empowerhouse Maria suffered abuse for almost while pregnant. She lost her baby. When to seek legal status after being a crime her entire life starting when she was a girl. she went to the hospital because of victim for so many years. Her step-father sexually abused her when injuries from the fall, it never came out With a long road ahead to she was 13. that her husband pushed her. overcome barriers to entering housing, Her mother knew but could not At home recovering from the fall Maria moved into the transition house stop it. She was not supported in any way she was taking strong medications and she where she and her children lived in their and in fact her mother forced her to was sleeping a lot. A few days went by. She own residence owned by Empowerhouse marry an older man. woke up and everything was very quiet in for many months without paying any She decided to escape and ran the house which was uncommon in a expenses. away to a neighboring country. When she house full of 7 children. Something in her During that time Empowerhouse was fifteen years old and far from home heart told her that she needed to be supported her family and helped with she became a victim of human trafficking. worried. transportation to doctor's appointments Escaping from the trafficker, she came to She went to her daughter's and counseling support for her and her the United States not knowing that she bedroom and when she opened the door, children. was pregnant with her first child. she saw her daughter on her bed and her Also during that time Maria was Years later, Maria met her husband half naked assaulting her. Her diagnosed with pre-cancer (HPV) and husband with whom she lived for eight daughter started to scream, "It's not my Empowerhouse provided transportation years. This relationship became exploitive fault, it's not my fault." Maria started to for all her doctor's appointments and also and abusive too. He sold her, offering her beat him and scream; he ran to the to the surgery appointment. Advocates to other men, with whom she had to have kitchen and she ran outside and called her helped her make arrangements with her sexual relations for money. He mentally, neighbor for help and told her what sister and some of the women from the verbally and physically beat and terrorized happened. Empowerhouse Latino support group to her. Her neighbor called the police, assist her and her children during her During one of the last attacks he and took Maria and her daughter with her healing time. bit her and pushed her down the stairs to her house. The police came to Maria's Also, her advocates referred her house; they interviewed both of them to an office that fixed her dentures for

Start the Fall separately, and they sent Maria to the free. The Healthcare Advocate assisted her hospital with the social worker and her in completing paperwork related to her Season with a daughter and left him at the house with son's facial reconstruction surgery. The

Multicolored the rest of the children and the police officer. Healthcare Advocate also provided transportation to the son's doctor's

Jacket When the officers finally left, her husband was alone with the rest of the appointments. While Maria was waiting for the children. He used this moment to plan his U-Visa, the Housing Victim Advocate next move. He knew he could use the assisted her and her children in applying children to punish Maria and the family for an apartment through Empowerhouse. for contacting the police. Our partner, Central Virginia Housing He left with the children. Coalition helped her find an apartment When Maria returned home she and sign a lease. found an empty house. She called the She has found a job. She now has police officer again and they started to her own transportation thanks to a look for her husband. donation by a member of her church. This The next day she called her will help her to be more independent and brother-in-law and he told her that he had maintain her employment. the children, and asked her not to call the Recently, Maria expressed how police. He told her that he would give her grateful she is to Empowerhouse. She back her children. mentioned never having received so much Maria's husband escaped to his support in her life. Her children received birth country. so many gifts, toys, food and clothes at Referred by the police officer, Christmas thanks to generous donors. Maria called Empowerhouse for support. Maria received gift cards from She talked with an advocate and decided to Empowerhouse when she left the come to shelter. Maria came to the transition house as a reward for taking Empowerhouse domestic violence shelter. such good care of the unit where she was While there, she began to rebuild her life living with her children. This money will taking steps to get care for her and her help her to buy things that she will need children, taking legal steps, and accessing for her new home. supports available in the community. Reflecting on her journey with Social services provided daycare, the Latina Support Services Coordinator, TANF, and food stamps. She applied for Maria said 723 Caroline St 899.8077 custody of her children which she later "On this day I lost what I

Daily 11-5; Sunday 12-4 gained and started her U-Visa application considered to be my family but yesterday

(a year later) was a celebration because I received [a new family] from Empowerhouse. “For the first time in my life, I am not afraid thanks to all that I learned during the year from each of you (the Empowerhouse advocates). At shelter, I always felt warmth from Rose when I was sad. I was exhausted as a person. “When I was in your (transition) house, for the first time I was in a house and did not have to pay anything. This changed my life. I never had this much support from my family or people I knew and trusted. “I learned to have humility and patience from Tammy. I am grateful to Monica for supporting my health and for all of her guidance and support. She also helped me to enroll my children and orient them into daycare and school. “From Aundrea, I felt her support and assistance with all of my requests. In support group, I learned and strengthened my knowledge. It allowed me to meet other women and Dilcia. Dilcia supported my transportation and helped me connect with a Doctor for my teeth and a Doctor for my son. ‘And, I thank you Leslie because you always take my calls regardless of the time of day and you talk with me on any subject. “I feel blessed to have Empowerhouse and that each of you are guardian angels for women like me who have difficult life situations. I want to write a letter to express all of my gratitude and to let everyone who has supported me know that I am optimistic, that I feel hopeful, and that I have faith in myself because I now live a dignified life."

Empowerhouse is a non-profit organization providing confidential domestic violence assistance in the city of Fredericksburg and the counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, and Caroline. These services include a free and confidential 24-hour hotline, a temporary emergency shelter, information, referrals, and advocacy.

To help Empowerfhouse’s Domestic Violence Shelter and Families, please support the Shelter by mailing your donation to: Empowerhouse, PO Box 1007, FXBG, VA 22402 For Free Local Confidential Services call 540-373-9373