By Debbe Donastorg, Program Director at Good Shepherd Services, New York, USA

A Dream Turned to Darkness

Nancy is an undocumented immigrant who had left her home country in search of a better life in the United States. She dreamed of safety and stability, and for a time, she thought she had found it with Jacob. He was charming at first, offering her the promise of love and protection in a foreign land where she had no one else to turn to. After a year, Nancy got pregnant, and the darkness in Jacob began to emerge.

At first, it was subtle—a harsh word here, a controlling gesture there. Nancy thought if she just loved him more once she had the baby, he would change. But the abuse escalated quickly, especially after the baby was born. What started as verbal assaults soon turned physical. Nancy found herself isolated, terrified, and utterly dependent on Jacob. She had no legal status, no family nearby, and no friends. Jacob knew this, and he used it against her, threatening to report her to immigration authorities, have her deported, and keep the baby if she ever tried to leave him.

The beatings became a regular part of Nancy’s life. She learned to hide the bruises, to make excuses when neighbors asked about the noise, and to endure the pain in silence. But no matter how much she tried to comply with Jacob’s demands, nothing seemed to stop his anger.

One night, after a particularly brutal assault that left her gasping for breath on the floor, Nancy looked at her little son crying in his playpen, and at that moment she knew she had to find help. She thought of leaving, but where could she and her baby go? Who would help an undocumented woman with a baby, no money, no legal rights, and no support system?

Desperate and fearing for her life, Nancy remembered having a conversation with a woman in the pediatrician’s office about domestic violence. It was for Good Shepherd Services’ program called Safe Homes Project.

A Mission to Thrive

Good Shepherd Services is dedicated to creating a New York City where every child, individual, and family can achieve success. Guided by social and racial justice, they partner and grow with historically underinvested communities, so people have opportunities to thrive.

They serve 30,000 people annually in the New York City area, confronting challenges like economic and educational disparities through innovative programs, strong leadership, and strategic advocacy. After almost 100 years, they continue to expand their support through community-based, youth and family well-being, education, vocation, and career services – including serving those affected by intimate partner violence.

A Journey to Wholeness

Unsure and scared, Nancy dialed the hotline number. A calm voice answered. For the first time in years, she felt heard. The woman on the other end of the line assured her that she didn’t need to worry about her immigration status—that they could help her. During that conversation, an intake was completed, and a safety plan was in place to help Nancy access the services and resources she desperately needed.

Safe Homes Project connected Nancy to the Family Justice Center in Brooklyn and helped her obtain an order of protection, which allowed her to have Jacob removed from the apartment. They also connected Nancy to legal services and financial resources to help her begin rebuilding her life. With Safe Home’s support, she was able to apply for a U visa, which offered her a pathway to legal residency as a victim of a crime.

It was a long journey, but once she obtained her legal residency, Nancy was able to obtain a housing voucher that allowed her to move into a safer apartment with her son in another area of Brooklyn.

Nancy attends Safe Homes support groups, where she has connected with other women who faced similar struggles. When she shares her life experience with other survivors, what was once fear in her voice is now replaced with words of encouragement and hope. Most importantly, Nancy has found her voice.

Learn More About Good Shepherd Service
Good Shepherd Services’ core values of compassion, commitment, learning, bold leadership, optimism, and responsiveness inspire everything they do. They’re always learning and evolving, using evidence-based practices to ensure their efforts are effective. With a strength-based approach, they listen to the needs of our communities, adapting to provide the best possible support. They are working toward a more equitable and inclusive future where everyone can develop their unique strengths and create lasting positive change for themselves and their communities. Visit www.goodshepherds.org to learn more.