Finding Safe Haven
"I was seeking help and needed to find a better place for me and my family,” Jaime recalled, looking back at the challenging circumstances she faced at the time. “I knew of people who could help so I turned to them to help me get out of the situation I was in.”
Jaime, a single mother of four, had experienced domestic violence since 2019. Seeking safety from her abuser, Jaime turned to a local transitional housing organization, Coburn Place, where she completed an assessment and was able to move into The Salvation Army’s Ruth Lilly Women and Children’s Center.
Before coming to live at the shelter, Jaime was staying with family and friends in order to escape her abuser. She was working full-time while caring for her children, the youngest less than a year old. After settling in at the Ruth Lilly Women and Children's Center, Jaime’s family was selected to join The Salvation Army's Domestic Violence Rapid Rehousing program. Just one month later, Jaime and her children were moving into a new, safe home of their very own.
This vital initiative is able to help survivors of violence in central Indiana thanks in part to a 2023 Continuum of Care grant of $300,000 from the City of Indianapolis. The program provides rental assistance and secures safe housing for up to two years for women and their families who are victims of domestic violence. Its primary objective is to overcome any barriers these families face and help them achieve stable independence.
Jaime worked with Salvation Army care coordinator Albat Mulbah to develop a personalized case management plan and ensure she was prepared for a stable, independent life before transitioning out of the program. She expressed deep gratitude to God for the program, sharing how it has helped her put her life back together. Jaime continues to meet with Albat twice a month to ensure she is staying on the right track and, together, they set goals for her future.
“Jaime is taking full advantage of the program to better herself and is making a difference for her family,” Albat shared. “I could see her passion that she wanted to get better for her children, and she is working very hard to do it.”
Jaime’s story is a powerful testament to the transformative power of faith and the boundless grace of God, showing that blessings truly arrive when needed most. As she and her children find peace and hope in their future, Jaime is optimistic that others will find a similar path to independence from their abusers. The work continues, with four more families at the shelter enrolled in the Domestic Violence Rapid Rehousing program and waiting to be moved into a new home. Like Jaime, they are excited for the opportunity to someday raise their children in safe and violence-free homes of their own.