ellen's story
After 6 years of living with an abusive husband, two broken arms, and countless death threats, Ellen finally admitted to herself that she had to leave, but at six months into her pregnancy and with no financial resources or family living in the city, she didn’t know where to turn.
One night, angry that she’d left the dishes in the sink again, her husband beat her so hard that she thought she would miscarry. "This time," she says, "I thought he really might kill me."
“YWCA helped me leave my abusive situation forever…”Ellen and her daughter arrived at a Toronto women’s shelter right before Christmas, feeling broken hearted, wounded and emotionally numb. As she writes to us, “The sensitivity of the staff was amazing. We immediately felt warmth and safety. The counsellors taught us how to deal with anger in a positive way and not let it destroy our lives.
They helped me leave my abusive situation forever and told me about the December 6 Fund. With the money I was able to pay for moving expenses out of the shelter and get into the housing system. They also helped my daughter find a new school. No matter how difficult it became with court battles and housing issues, the staff advocated on our behalf by writing letters, making phone calls and supporting us every step of the way. I never thought I’d wind up in an abusive situation that would change my life like this but YWCA Toronto helped me to get out and move on. We are safe and free at last.”
YWCA Toronto works to help women like Ellen every day. Ellen and her daughter are among the 82% of women and children staying in shelters across Canada because they are escaping abuse and violence, 60% of whom are in lethal danger and fear for their lives (Statistics Canada; YWCA Canada). YWCA Toronto provides a range of housing options and services to assist women and women-led families leave an abusive relationship, allowing them to make the transition to a violence-free life and a protective and safe home for their children.
