Dear Friends and Supporters,
This fall is an invigorating time for NMIC's Domestic Violence Project. We are energized coming off the heels of our annual seven mile Brides' March held on Sept. 26th but we are preparing for more clients in more need with diminishing resources. In 2011, family homicides are up compared to last year and there were 6,974 police reports made in the neighborhoods where we work. We continue to serve over 300 survivors each year with counseling, safety planning and legal services.
To learn more about the impact of our services, read Angelica's story below. Please consider giving this month in honor of every time you've heard of a woman being sexually assaulted, strangled, or stalked. As little as $10 or $15 can help restore a battered woman's trust in human decency and minimize her dependency on an abusive partner. Make your end of the year tax deductible contribution now!
In appreciation,
DVP staff @ NMIC
Angelica's Story
In January, 2011 Angelica received a housewarming present. After living for more than a year in two different shelters, she finally moved into affordable and safe permanent housing. The first few nights, she and her two children ages 7 and 5 slept on the floor. DVP quickly mobilized and donated new beds and linens. We also were able to use money raised from V-Day 2010 to help pay for the moving expenses.
Almost a year earlier, Angelica walked in to NMIC having been referred by the 34th Precinct. The day before, her estranged husband had found her and kidnapped their 3 year old daughter. NMIC has helped Angelica on a weekly basis ever since. She has received police advocacy which led to two arrests and prosecutions in two boroughs. She was linked to legal services where she won full custody and is on the path to receiving a U visa, which will allow her to remain legally in the US. We helped her apply for NYC public housing using her priority status as a DV victim to avoid a 10 year waiting list. We helped replace her son's asthma machine which she had to leave behind when she fled the home.
Angelica has gained so much from the NMIC's DV program! She attended the support group, our annual Mother's Day event and referred new clients who also needed support. Her children received backpacks when they returned to school and a turkey at Thanksgiving. She visited an art gallery and took art therapy workshops. She learned about parenting in the context of domestic violence. She received individual counseling and was referred to specialized therapy for her children. She completed our 4 week computer class and signed up for her first email account. At Christmas her children received toys through our partnership with NY Cares. We accompanied her to testify for the Grand Jury and sat at her side when her husband appeared - shackled - in Family Court. And now, finally she is in her first violence free home.
We'll keep supporting Angelica - helping her transfer her children to new schools, keeping her new home confidential, and serve as a source of information and support as she continues to heal and recover. Both criminal cases are still pending and she may need to testify. If she does, we'll be at her side. It's never just one service intervention, or one phone call to 911 that helps victims become survivors, it's the sum of all the support and resources given over time, with dignity.
name has been changed for reasons of confidentiality
