"Irina"
Irina, a 31-year-old pregnant, disabled woman from the former Soviet Union went to the emergency room after being brutally beaten. She was given our hotline number at the emergency room. Her husband was American and had threatened that if she tried to leave he would have her deported, so she was very reluctant to get help. The history of their relationship showed escalating violence and the hospital staff felt that Irina’s life was in danger. Irina agreed to accept our help. Over the course of the next nine months, Irina received safe housing through JFSA, free legal services through our partnership with Case Western Reserve University Milton A. Kramer Law Clinic Center, case management, financial assistance, counseling and vocational training through our Career Center. She and her baby are now living abuse free and she is completely self-supporting.