Help a Survivor Rebuild After Domestic Violence

For safety reasons, the brave woman at the center of this story must remain anonymous—but she is a Black woman living here in Vermont who urgently needs support from her community.

After surviving a violent and abusive relationship, she fled for her life—leaving everything behind. The injuries she sustained during this time were so severe that she spent over a week and a half in the hospital. With no family or friends nearby, she was left to recover alone.

After her hospital stay, she lived out of her car for weeks until a spot opened in a domestic violence shelter. While she is now temporarily housed, she has reached the maximum length of stay and must find permanent housing soon. Despite all she has been through, she continues to fight for herself and her future.

During this time, she also suffered an injury at work, resulting in a concussion and additional physical trauma. Though she has been attending therapy and doing her best to heal, progress has slowed due to the stress of her situation and the weight of navigating it alone.

She has now been pre-approved for an apartment—a crucial and hopeful step forward. But in order to move in, she needs to pay a security deposit of $1,500 and first month’s rent of $1,500. She also needs help furnishing the apartment, as she had to leave everything behind when she fled.

Here is what she’s currently facing:

Auto repair and inspection costs: $1,434.92

Car insurance back pay and reinstatement: $378 total

Security deposit + first month’s rent: $3,000 total

Back rent debt: $5,067 (Her former partner stopped paying rent after she left. She must resolve this debt and present proof in order to move into her new apartment.)

Furniture and basic essentials: $1,000 but anything helps—she is starting from scratch.

Having access to her car is vital—not only for attending her medical and therapy appointments but also for returning to work, which her doctor says she can do by the end of July.

This is the first time she has ever had to ask her community for help, and she is deeply grateful to anyone who is willing to stand beside her. Every dollar brings her closer to safety, stability, and the dignity of rebuilding her life on her own terms.

Please give what you can, and share this with others who may be moved to help.

Thank you for your compassion.