John's Story
We recently assisted a male client, "John," who was experiencing emotional, physiological, and physical violence from his long-term partner. He had tried to get help in the past from friends and family, but had felt he was judged and that people had a bias towards him, not believing him or taking him seriously.
Then, there was an incident where police responded and granted John and his child an emergency protective order. He was then referred to NEWS’ Court Advocates, who helped him through the process of requesting a more permanent restraining order.
At first, when John was in high crisis, you could see the anxiety, fear and stress in his face and his body language. He needed extra support in the beginning, and our Court Advocates met his need, helping him prioritize what needed to get done. Our Court Advocates helped file the initial temporary restraining order application and referred John to the local legal clinic, where they were able to offer full representation on his case.
John received financial assistance to help with food, bills, and security cameras, and he gained support from NEWS's Housing and Self-Sufficiency program to identify long-term housing options for himself and his kid.
While the court process is ongoing, John is trying to bring balance and peace in to his life. With the help of NEWS, he has become more empowered and confident, one small step at a time. John has ambitious goals and dreams for his life with his child and we have no doubt that he will accomplish them all.