STORY 3

I grew up in a small village in Mexico. My family was very poor, and we struggled to survive. At 16, I left for the U.S.

My boyfriend followed me here. Although I didn’t know him well, we got married when I was 17. At first, the abuse was verbal. When we couldn’t afford rent, we moved in with his family. I’ll never forget the day his uncle brutally punched his wife in front of us and their children, telling my husband, “This is the way you treat your woman.”

After that, my husband started to beat and rape me. I don’t even like to think about all the ugly things he said he would do if I left him. I couldn’t call the police – what if they deported me? My brothers tried to help, but he threatened them at knifepoint. My deeply religious mother and aunt told me to pray to God. They reminded me that marriage is forever.

Interval House saved my life. My daughters’ lives, too. He told me he would kill me and make them disappear, and I believed him. By then, he had killed someone and had been in and out of jail.

When I met the executive director, Carol Williams, I was shocked that this tall white lady spoke Spanish. She became our guiding angel. She helped me with the police, with getting a restraining order, and eventually a divorce. I spoke no English and had no self-esteem; there was no way I could have done any of it.

I was very worried about my daughters, especially my youngest, who has cerebral palsy. She was four when we came to Interval House, and I didn’t know how to get help for her. Carol found us the right services, and that changed everything. They offer so much more than housing, including legal assistance, financial empowerment classes, counseling, leadership development, and even health and wellness programs. Almost all the programs are available in Spanish.

I learned English, took a lot of other classes, and eventually earned my college degree. I never thought I’d be able to do that.

Now, as the staff Legal Director, I help others in situations like mine, especially Hispanic women navigating the legal system. When you have nothing, you can’t imagine there’s a place like this where people care so much and support you in every way. It’s completely life-changing.

I’m privileged to be able to pay forward the kindness Carol showed me. I wouldn’t want to do anything else.