Emma was living in Iowa with her two sons and her husband. She experienced endless abuse at the hands of her husband.
Over their 22-year-marriage, she attempted to leave 8 times but always ended up back with her husband. Eventually, Emma and the kids fled to Milwaukee because she knew her husband would not look for her there.
Although she was away from her abuser, they had nowhere to go. She called Sojourner’s 24-hour hotline and was accepted into the emergency shelter.
Read MoreMonica is like many domestic violence survivors. Her ex-husband often made her feel as if the abuse was her fault. He would violently lash out and blame her for setting him off. When Monica told her family about the abuse and that she was considering leaving, she didn’t get the support she needed.
“What did you do to make him so angry?” they asked.
Deep down, Monica knew her husband’s violent outbursts weren’t her fault. And it wasn’t until a friend suggested calling Sojourner, was she met with care and compassion.
Read MoreOne of Sojourner’s partners at the Family Peace Center, Goodwill Industries, works with domestic violence survivors to secure stable employment to help achieve or maintain independence. Goodwill works with employers to find opportunities for survivors and also provides survivors with resume assistance, job search support and interview coaching.
Our partner recently shared a touching story about a Sojourner client who found, then lost a job due to COVID-19. The story, as told by a Goodwill Workforce Connection Consultant, takes an unexpected, yet heart-warming twist:
Read MoreMarne arrived at Sojourner’s emergency shelter Dec. 28, just three days after Christmas. She came to Sojourner pregnant and with three small children, seeking shelter from her husband’s physical and emotional abuse.
Read MoreSelfless, caring and concerned about meeting other people’s needs – that’s just Sara’s way.
It started when she was young. When Sara was 10 years old, her father walked out on the family, shifting his adult-sized responsibilities onto her tiny shoulders. It was a devastating blow. Her siblings turned to drugs and alcohol to cope with their father’s absence while Sara put aside her feelings of abandonment to care for her family.
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