Melissa's Abuse is Over

Melissa grew up in a close, middle class Tampa family as the youngest sibling.  She was an honors high school graduate and went to college on a scholarship to be an English teacher.  In her junior year she met the "love of her life," became  

pregnant, quickly married, and then dropped out of school before her final year.  Early in the marriage, her husband became physically abusive. According to Melissa, she "lost all motivation and sense of who she was."

Four years later, Melissa came to the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay with her young son in tow.  She was nearly due to deliver her second child and had separated from her husband.  She turned to the Crisis Center for help to break free of abuse, neglect and debt. The pregnancy forced Melissa to wake up emotionally and find help to create a safe physical and financial environment for her and her children. 

Family Stabilization at the Crisis Center worked with Melissa to develop a plan to restore her credit, build savings toward buying a home, and pay-off debts. Melissa completed the program's financial literacy class, Money Matters, and received guidance while working with creditors to negotiate new payments and in some cases, reduce balances. She was able to open a "second chance" checking account and a new savings account. 

Melissa worked with a Child and Family Safety case manager at the Crisis Center  

to develop a safety and well-being plan that would get her out of the home she had shared with her husband and into her own apartment.  This provided the final emotional and physical separation that Melissa needed to feel safe and in control.  She was also referred to the Crisis Center's Corbett Trauma Center for counseling to address the loss and trauma she had experienced over the years.

Melissa and her boys are safe now.  She is returning to work, the baby is in  

daycare and her four year-old is in Head Start. She has started to save some of her income and is exploring ways that she can return to school to complete her Bachelor's degree

The Crisis Center is only able to help women like Melissa because of the generous support of our donors. You can help women in our community by making a  

donation today. Click HERE to make a donation through the Crisis Center's website.