Camila came to the US in 2005 with her husband, Marcos, and their baby Samuel. She was hoping for a fresh start for her family. A year after they arrived, Marcos shot Camila before turning the gun on himself—taking his own life while holding their two-year-old son.
Camila survived after weeks of being in a coma. She got a job at a local restaurant, working to take care of Samuel despite knowing limited English. She also obtained a U-Visa, eventually becoming a permanent residence and enjoying her independence.
Then, a few years ago, she had a daughter with John, a man who abused her regularly and trashed her apartment, getting her evicted. Camila and her two children ended up homeless.
Camila came to New Beginnings’ HomeSafe program wanting a better life for her family. She worked with our advocates to learn about domestic violence and the patterns of abuse. Samuel, now 10, met with a Youth & Family Advocate to talk about the trauma he had experienced. He also worked with a volunteer tutor each week and started talking about wanting to be a teacher when he grows up.
After working with New Beginnings for five months, Camila got a two-bedroom apartment. Thanks to your support, New Beginnings was able to help pay for application fees and the deposit on their new home.
Camila’s journey was not an easy one; she survived two abusive relationships before coming to New Beginnings.
