This week an Indiana program helps to protect victim’s safety through shelter and relocation:

The Columbus Regional Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence (dba/Turning Point Domestic Violence Services) received a telephone call at one of its Community Outreach Offices from a local police officer. The officer had responded to a domestic disturbance call involving a victim was a Latina and who spoke only Spanish.  The officer had arrested the assailant.  He asked if Turning Point could help Paula with a safety plan.  The local county Community Services Director contacted the Latina Program Services Coordinator (LPSC), who provided assistance with safety planning.

The next morning, the LPSC called to check the status of the assailant and discovered that he had been held for 12 hours and released.  The LPSC called the police department to express her concerns about Paula’s safety.  One of the officers agreed to check on Paula.  When he spoke with her, she said that she did not feel safe.  Paula told the officer that the assailant was abusive to her and the three minor children, including their six-month old daughter.  The officer gave Paula and her children a ride to Turning Point’s Community Outreach Office, where she spoke with the LPSC. 

The LPSC offered Paula the option of staying at Turning Point’s Emergency Shelter Program, and she accepted. The officer provided Paula with a ride home so she could pick up some personal items for herself and her children; he then transported her to a safe transfer location.  The LPSC met her there and drove her to the shelter in Columbus.

Paula said that she and her abuser had not been living in Indiana for very long  They were currently residing in a mobile home.  Although it was winter, they had no heat and she and the children often had nothing to eat.

Turning Point’s LPSC began working to locate a shelter in the state in which Paula had previously lived and where some of her family lived, as well.  Paula was undocumented, which made it very difficult to locate a program at which she could receive services.  After Paula and her children had been provided with dedicated services through Turning Point’s shelter program for one month, the LPSC successfully advocated for Paula’s acceptance into a residential program in Paula’s original state. 

Turning Point purchased airline tickets for Paula and her children and linked her to supportive services in her home state.  Paula learned that she would receive assistance filing for a U-Visa.

Today, Paula and her children are living in a safe place.  She told the LPSC that she does not believe that she would be where she is today without Turning Point’s help.