I am Moumita Das and I am a client of SAFSS. I am very pleased with the service and support that I have received from SAFSS and its partner organizations. I was introduced to SAFSS by my legal aid lawyer. My councillor is Soraya.
When I first came to SAFSS I had so many questions in mind, I was scared, confused and uncertain about how I was going to come out of a violent situation all by myself all alone in this country. Soraya was very supportive and caring. She understood all the mixed emotions that I was going through and she comforted me. She made me understand better the cycle of abuse and helped me to brainstorm and bring out solutions by myself.
As I was working on getting a job I was in constant touch with her and I requested her to apply for housing for me. I was in the process of planning to leave my abusive husband and I kept getting her advice whenever required. Once I got the job and completed my probation, I finally decided to move out, Soraya and my social worker guided me through the process. Soraya helped to arrange for a place where I could rent and stay safe at minimal rent since I hadn’t had housing apartment that time.
Zareena from SAFSS helped me to get a lawyer who understood my situation and helped me secure my divorce as soon as possible with minimal cost possible. Soraya was in constant touch throughout the legal ups and downs provided me advice whenever required.
About about a year that I lived in the rental place I got approved for housing. I now live in the housing apartment. It feels great to have my own place safe and secure. I pay RGI rent which helps me a lot financially. SAFSS also connected me to furniture bank and help me get all the necessary furniture required to move.
Soraya connects with me time to time to check on me. She also helped me connect to various other organizations to provide support to me on financial planning, taxation and mental health support and other important services when I am in need of them. I feel safe, secure and confident now much better than before.
SAFSS is indeed an important organization to be in the community for women like me, who experienced or are experiencing domestic abuse and want to get out of it to live a happy healthy life.