Irma met her husband in El Salvador when she was only 14 and he was 19. During their 18-year relationship her abuser beat her with tree branches, cut the battery cables to her car and threatened to kill her and himself. Irma and her three children ages 13, 7 and 5, made three unsuccessful attempts to leave the abuser. One time, she was counseled to return to him by a psychologist (not trained in domestic violence) and the other two times, her husband came after her with a knife and forced her home.

Irma finally called the Crisis Line at Haven Hills and she and her children came into the 30-day Crisis Shelter. During her stay, she was accepted into Haven Two. Irma had only a 9th grade education and could not speak English. Within a very short time, she learned enough English to get a job at a local department store and enroll in computer classes at a community college. In addition to working and attending college, she is developing improved employment skills, caring for her children and participating in Haven Hills programs. Irma has overcome many challenges in order to create a bright future for herself and her children.