Tania* was a Mom to four children, resourceful and dedicated to their well-being. She had also been a victim of domestic violence for more than 16 years. With the help of a city domestic violence agency she was finally able to secure a safe place to live in public housing and resume an independent life.

All was well until Tania ran into difficulties paying her rent and soon found herself in the midst of eviction. It was then that our friends, Liz and Bruce Gitlin, founders of the New York Center for Law and Justice, met Tania. The Center provides assistance to the New York indigent deaf and hard-of-hearing community, and with their help Tania was able to remain in her apartment. All was well until her former batterer discovered her location-Tania and her children had to quickly move in with a relative and forego their independence.

Determined to return to independent, safe living Tania worked hard to locate a new apartment which would be unknown to her batterer. Last December her dream was fulfilled as she and her family moved into a new apartment in a safe city neighborhood. When we heard Tania’s story we were pleased that her life seemed to be turning around, but were stunned to hear that the family was sleeping on the floor with no furniture or other basic household items. Something needed to be done and with the help of our donors the Good People Fund immediately stepped in. Within a few days, our funds, along with the help of a generous storeowner, provided the family with beds, a couch, table and chairs and other household items.

Once again, small actions, do have huge impacts.

*Tania is a pseudonym