Sometimes, even the strongest people can feel like giving up.
When Ms. Henderson walked into the Safe Families Office on a Monday morning, she wasn’t sure how much longer she could hold on. Things at home had been escalating. Her husband had grown increasingly obsessive and controlling of her whereabouts and friendships, and arguments had become a constant. Then, the day before, he attacked her without warning. He jumped on her and strangled her, repeating that she didn’t love him as she lost consciousness. Thinking fast, she whispered whatever she could to get him to let go. She de-escalated the situation, persuaded him to go to sleep, and escaped. He was arrested that night, and she walked into the Safe Families Office the next morning.
While sitting with advocates and awaiting an ex parte hearing, Ms. Henderson began experiencing alarming symptoms: a racing heart, sweating, and difficulty breathing. Safe Families Office staff acted quickly, calling a Fulton County Sheriff’s Office paramedic to evaluate her and expediting her hearing. Once she received her ex parte Temporary Protective Order (TPO), staff coordinated her transportation to the hospital and stayed with her until she was okay.
The challenges didn’t stop there. A few days later, Ms. Henderson reported a deeply troubling experience with local police officers, who escorted her husband back to the home after his release from jail and allowed him full access to the property. Undeterred, she took her concerns directly to the Major of the precinct. AVLF connected her with a volunteer attorney who fought passionately on her behalf, and Ms. Henderson was awarded a Twelve Month Protective Order, granting her possession of her home, spousal support, and the protection she urgently needed.
A Protective Order, as important as it is, is often just one step on the road to safety. AVLF has been committed to walking that road alongside Ms. Henderson. When past-due mortgage payments threatened her stability, social workers in AVLF’s Standing with Survivors Program helped her identify financial resources. When the divorce process felt overwhelming, AVLF’s Family Law Program connected her with a volunteer attorney to represent her pro bono.
Ms. Henderson’s tenacity and perseverance are a testament to her strength. AVLF is proud to stand with her as she builds her peaceful future, one step at a time.
*Name has been changed to protect confidentiality.