Success Story

Being a mother of five children, including two teenagers, is demanding and stressful enough - making sure they're well-fed, getting plenty of sleep, doing their homework and all the other responsibilities it takes in just being "mom."

After Claire making the courageous decision to flee her abuser taking only her children and what little they could fit in her car, she hoped to be able to begin to start her life - their lives - anew by finding temporary refuge in a shelter for victims of domestic violence. For nearly two years, she and her children were homeless. Dire circumstances, yes, but better than being abused and living in fear for her life.

After moving into a shelter, Claire was referred to the Safe Places program, which provides transitional housing to women in Fairfax County, Virginia. Safe Places was able to find the perfect home for a family of six, a three-bedroom townhouse near her job and her children's school, where they are making friends as well as in their own neighborhood.

With the basics in place - a roof over her family's heads and a steady income to put food on the table every day - Claire is now finally able to think about the future as she works to overcome the trauma of the past. With the encouragement and support of her Safe Places case manager, Claire is striving to improve her financial situation while in the program so that in two years she will be fully self-sufficient.

Safe Places assists clients who want to take classes to earn certifications and degrees so they can have more than just a job, but a career with an opportunity for advancement - and a life free of abuse and a future filled with hope.