I Would Tell Them to Come

Fernanda’s Story

Content Warning: the following story includes references to sexual assault and domestic violence. Client name changed to protect confidentiality.

We recently met with Fernanda for an exit interview as she prepared to leave our Transitional Housing program and move with her son into an affordable apartment in our community. Fernanda came to CSN seeking help and safety after being sexually assaulted in Jackson. She received safety planning, emotional support, guidance with a protection order and the criminal justice system, as well as financial empowerment classes and connections to community resources to support her healing and path to safe, independent living.

During our conversation, we asked her to think about the first moment she considered coming to CSN – what would she say to that person?

As Fernanda shared more of her story with CSN advocates, we learned that she had left her relationship due to domestic violence in her marriage and had to leave without her children. She had been working on reunification for many years and dealing with ongoing manipulation by her husband who used the children to try to exert control over her. Once her son turned 18, he was able to join Fernanda while she was a resident in our Transitional Housing program. 

“One of my biggest accomplishments was coming to CSN alone and leaving the program with my son,” she shared. 

CSN’s Transitional Housing program is designed to offer longer-term temporary housing to clients who have moved beyond crisis and are working to build safe, stable lives for themselves, and often their children. Clients receive ongoing support from advocates, access to programs like Financial Empowerment, and the ability to practice life skills like budgeting in a judgment free environment. Clients also pay rent, and their total rent paid is returned in full to them once they leave the program. On average, Transitional Housing clients leave with $15,000 in savings. 

At the end of our conversation with Fernanda we asked her to reflect on some of the most impactful moments of her time with CSN.  

Over the past year, CSN has helped eight clients, including Fernanda, move from our Transitional Housing program into safe, affordable housing in our community.