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One Sunday morning, a community member called on behalf of Alison*. “Alison has to leave right now and she has no safe place to go to with her kids.”

That’s how Alison’s journey of leaving an abusive relationship started.

She didn’t tell many people about what was going on; Alison felt embarrassed and ashamed. For 17 years, things seemed “normal” from the outside and at the time, she was terrified that people wouldn’t believe her or would think of her as “overly dramatic.”

All the odds were against her. Alison’s income was not enough to cover the cost of living, and she had no savings or family to rely on. But she did have determination and a clear vision of the future she wanted for her children. That was enough to change the direction of her and her children’s lives.

When she finally had the courage to open up to JFS, she knew that she had made the right decision. Alison was connected with a case manager who listened to her, made her feel validated, and helped start her on a path to independence. With the support of JFS, Alison was able to receive income assistance, housing, and counselling for her and her children.

Today, she feels secure and hopeful. Alison now lives in a three-bedroom apartment with her children, who are all enrolled in nearby schools. She no longer worries about whether the rent will be paid, or if there will be food in the fridge. She knows that her children are safe, and that they have a place to call home every day. Instead of worrying about her future, she is now planning for it.

Her family is finally on a path of growth. While things can be difficult at times, they have the time to “heal, get healthy, and move forward” together.