Guest Feature: Beth Escaping Intimate Partner Violence

Often, when a guest begins seeking help from Women’s Lunch Place, they withhold critical information about their personal situation. Mistrust of institutions, fear of personal safety, and denial are all barriers to a fully transparent initial engagement.

Women’s Lunch Place’s deliberate model of care builds safety and trust and allows us to identify and resolve all the underlying issues. The following guest story is an example of our individualized service model at work.

One year ago, a woman named Beth* engaged with our Advocacy team after being referred by her healthcare provider. Beth was a Caribbean immigrant who worked long hours as a home health aide, caring for those who cannot care for themselves, and receiving low pay and few benefits in return. Her Advocate has characterized her as funny, organized, and a strict, “by the book” rule-follower.

During her first visit, she told her Advocate that she and her husband were being evicted from their apartment due to an unfavorable relationship with their landlord.

This was true––but not the full story.

After many meetings, Beth felt safe and disclosed she was experiencing Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and that the real reason for her eviction was her husband’s misbehavior.

Her initial reluctance to share this mirrors a nationwide trend. In 2020, the number of IPV-related calls dropped by more than 50%. Experts believe that rates of violence did not go down, but rather that victims were unable to safely reach out for services during the pandemic. Many were essentially locked in with their abusers.

Beth’s nightmare temporarily ended when she left her husband in early 2020 and began couch surfing with friends and family. COVID began, her support system collapsed, and with no other options, Beth was forced to move back in with her husband, who resumed his abuse.

Finally equipped with a full picture of Beth’s situation, Women’s Lunch Place connected her to an IPV shelter in Brockton where she could safely reside during the pandemic, begin her recovery, and search for housing. To enroll, she would need to leave her husband once again.

Paralyzed by the fear of escalating violence and her own safety, it took weeks before Beth was ready. Immediately, WLP assisted her with intake for the shelter and created a safety plan to lower her risk of being hurt by her partner when she left. A police escort was arranged to accompany her as she retrieved some possessions while her husband was at work. In a matter of days, Beth was able to join the shelter.

In Brockton, she continued her daily commute into the city. She diligently worked with her Advocate to attain her driver’s license and purchase a used car. Beth began to utilize WLP’s housing services, and we secured a permanent, safe, one-bedroom apartment in Brighton for her to begin her new life. She has since worked with us to file for divorce and is now planning to go back to school to train for a new career in the medical field.

This chain of successful, life-changing decisions can be traced back to WLP’s unique and intentional service model, which we carry out every day at Women’s Lunch Place. We create a safe environment where every woman is empowered to share her full, unabridged story and take agency in her future. We give a voice to the voiceless.

*Guest’s name has been changed for privacy purposes. The guest pictured above is not Beth.