Client Successes
Sima’s Story
Sima, a 45 year-old single mother of one, escaped a severe domestic violence situation in which her husband abused her emotionally, physically and sexually. She left with her daughter in the middle of the night after four years of abuse.
Sima related this story to her Resident Choices case manager. Sima had lived in Iran and had met her husband five years ago while he was visiting family. He proposed during the visit, promising all the benefits of a future in America to her and her daughter. Sima explained that he “seemed like a very kind man,” and being a widowed mother, she thought it an excellent opportunity for her 13 year-old daughter and for herself. So they moved to Seattle shortly after getting married, leaving behind friends and family.
Things changed upon arriving in the US. Her husband became very controlling and manipulative, telling her she couldn’t leave the house or “immigration would find her and deport her.” New to the country and unable to speak fluent English, Sima took these threats very seriously, and began feeling “like a prisoner in her own home.” Finally she gained the courage to leave.
At the time she and her daughter came to Resident Choices, they had moved into a two-bedroom apartment with Sima’s only friend in Seattle. However, Sima was unemployed and had no income of any kind. She was extremely depressed and suffering from post-traumatic stress from her husband’s abuse. In addition, her immigration status was in jeopardy; her husband was threatening to withdraw her application, and she could not afford a lawyer.
Our case manager first referred Sima to another Family Services program, Multi-Cultural Counseling. The case manager also referred her to a domestic violence attorney at the Northwest Immigration Rights Project. At the encouragement of her case manager, Sima also began to apply for work in accounting, her field of study.
Not long afterwards, Sima was offered a full-time, permanent position as a universal banker at a local bank and now enjoys a steady income and full benefits. She continues to attend therapy sessions with her counselor, feels that she is coming out of her depression and has a brighter outlook on life.
Another issue concerning Sima was her daughter’s inability to pay college tuition. Because financial aid was based on the income of the ex-husband, Sima’s daughter was ineligible. The case manager contacted the college, explained the situation and made a hardship request for more aid. The request was approved, and Sima’s daughter was able to stay in college.
The next step for Sima is finding an independent, affordable home for herself and her daughter. She often expresses how much Resident Choices helped her turn her life around and create a new beginning for both herself and her daughter.