2020 has been a tough year for all but there are those who have suffered so much more. During the past year, Nisa Homes has received 3 times more calls than any other year, mainly from victims of abuse. Since the implementation of COVID restrictions, domestic abuse victims are trapped at home with their abusers.
For many of us, home is safe. But for women like Jameela, it is not.
Jameela is a survivor of domestic abuse, who found the strength to leave her abusive spouse. But in the process, lost custody of her children and found herself couch-surfing at her friends’ and family’s homes for months. She was deprived contact with her children for years and spent all the money she earned on lawyers in order to fight for custody, only to have no success and find herself homeless.
Exhausting all her options and feeling dejected, she found herself on the doorsteps of Nisa Homes, believing that she had incredibly bad luck.
However, it was not luck but the lack of proper resources that prevented Jameela from getting the help that she needed.
While at the Home, she was able to extend her medical leave from work and get on employment insurance and now, the Canada Response Benefit. We also helped her get set up with a lawyer who is helping her through court hearings and retracking decisions that were made without her consent. Jameela was also able to get her medical and mental health needs met with referrals from her caseworker.
Alhumdulillah, after 3 months, she was able to finally move into her own house and now, has a constant smile on her face. Through her journey, she has made life-long friends with all the other residents and now believes in the possibilities the future holds.
