Atlanta Group Aids Immigrants Leaving Abuse Amid Language and Status Barriers
Tapestri reports that survivors often depend on partners for immigration and financial support, complicating efforts to leave.
By Ivan Dvorak ·
Advocates in Georgia are drawing attention to the specific hurdles immigrants and refugees encounter when trying to leave abusive relationships, including language barriers and concerns over immigration status. The challenges often begin with a lack of financial independence, which can trap individuals in unsafe homes.
Tapestri, an organization in Atlanta that serves survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking, reports that many clients cannot access support easily. Founder Vanisa Tabakovic said that English is not the first language for many of the refugees and immigrants the group works with. "A lot of times they still depend on their abusers for financial and immigration support," Tabakovic said.
One survivor, speaking anonymously to protect her children, described how her former husband began physically abusing the kids after they moved to Nebraska. She stated, "He was abusing me first, and when he started abusing the kids physically, I could not take it anymore. I did not want to see my kids go through that." She left him one night while he was away, boarding a bus to Georgia with her children.
Upon arriving in Georgia, the survivor was connected with Tapestri. She noted that she had no family nearby and her relatives were an ocean away, which increased her isolation during the transition. She reported finding a community at the organization that made her feel safe. "I did not even believe people like that existed. So I was so thankful, I felt so comfortable," she said.
Tabakovic emphasized that assistance must extend beyond the initial escape from an abusive situation. "Survivors need us every month and we need a community of resources to help them rebuild their lives and move from the time when they first reach out to when they're actually stable in their lives," Tabakovic said.
The survivor stated that the support provided to her and her children offered a chance to start over. She added that she was not sure they would have had a future otherwise.
