Mother, son rebuild bond, lives in shelter

For one mother and son, the time they spent together at Harbor House not only spared them physical abuse, but put them both on a path to a brighter future.

The two came into shelter in late 2020 after both experienced months of frequent and intense abuse. Even though they were in a safe place together, new challenges stood in the way of the healing process. The mother lost her job a few days after coming into shelter. The child struggled with remote learning in a new and unfamiliar environment.

Harbor House helped work through hurdles

Together and with the help of their Harbor House advocate, they worked through the hurdles. The mother obtained employment, paid off some fines and got her driver’s license. The team at Harbor House also helped her obtain a vehicle. Once he felt safe and settled into a routine at Harbor House, the son was able to focus on school and his grades improved.

Most importantly, mother and son had time to rebuild their bond while in shelter.

Remaining safe and stable

The future looks bright for the duo. They were accepted into a two-year housing program for domestic violence survivors. She continues to receive services from Harbor House through outreach programs, helping them to remain safe and stable.