Help Survivors and Their Pets Find Safe Haven

Lonely, helpless, hopeless, and in the shadows of fear, these are some of the many emotions that M.M experienced as she walked through the doors of Northeast GA Council on Domestic Violence. As an undocumented victim of domestic violence, client was threatened with Law enforcement taking her children from her and then being deported if she reached out to LE to report abuse in the home. Client, fearful at the thought of being separated from her children and leaving them at the hands of her abuser, stayed quiet. As M.M continued to work with the agency she disclosed the horrendous details of physical, verbal, emotional and financial abuse her and her children endured for years by her former intimate partner and father of her children as well as her hard upbringing. She attended weekly life skills and parenting classes in which she participated, and completed her home assignments to help her challenge the validity of her belief system and replace them with more accurate and positive ones. M.M now lives a life in which she feels comfortable in her own skin, able to use her voice, and actively working on her lifelong healing process. 

Due to the agency’s advocacy and generosity M.M received Immigration assistance from a Private Immigration Attorney that was able to secure an Employment Authorization Document for M.M in only nine months compared to the four years that it takes most victims of a crime to receive it. Now, she waits to have the full U-Visa, which will open up path to citizenship. M.M now has the opportunity to work, have a social security number, driver’s license and most importantly the safety and security that she is not getting separated from her children. M.M is an inspiration to her children, her children recall getting the call when her EAD card arrived, they cried, tears of joy they call them. Tears of joy, as they are no longer in the shadows of fear. 

My Why: Standing with Survivors on Georgia Gives Day

As a Victim's Advocate, I've had the privilege of working with survivors like M.M. Survivors and their families that have courageously walked through the door or picked up the 10, 000lb phone to make a call asking for help. Despite being at their rock bottom, feeling empty, fearful, and sad, they chose to trust. 

Through emergency shelter, 24/7 crisis response, legal advocacy, and support services, NEGACDV continues to provide hope to survivor. Hope to rebuild their lives with dignity and hope. We also understand that pets are family too, which is why we provide care and protection for the animals of survivors—ensuring that every member of the family finds safety together.

At NEGACDV not only do we focus on escaping the physical harm; we assist with reclaiming their sense of self. We assist with helping them understand that their scars, both visible and invisible, can serve as reminders of their courage and the battles won.

By donating you can open doors for other survivors in the community that are currently in the shadows of fear. Unable to speak up and seek justice for themselves and their children due to fear of losing their children or not having the financial means. By donating, you will be empowering, strengthening and, supporting families/communities on their path to independence as they will be more likely to report abuse and neglect if they know there is a group of people that will stand for them. This will allow for families to receive the assistance they may need to live safe, peaceful and joyous lives in which their children get the opportunity to thrive in life without the worry of choosing safety vs protecting parent’s legal status/financial stability. The more we can assist people in the community, the more they will trust, and in turn more families can receive nurturing care and assistance. We can protect our children and their families and prevent more cases of abuse. 

Your support can:

• Provide a safe night of shelter for a parent and child
• Offer a warm, secure space for a beloved pet
• Connect a survivor with a caring advocate at any hour of the day or night
• Cover legal fees
• Provide assistance with housing, utility bills, and groceries

When you give to NEGCDV, you are giving more than money—you are giving safety, stability, and hope. Together, we can break the cycle of violence and build a future where every individual—and every pet—feels valued, supported, and safe.

👉 Donate today and help us reach our $25,000 goal! Because in the moments that matter most… all they need is you.