Daniela and Iris are two friends and former coworkers who unexpectedly found themselves seeking refuge at SafeNest’s shelter last May. Despite facing the challenges of their undocumented immigration status, they were determined to secure a better future for themselves and their families.

During their time at at Shelter, Daniella, Iris, and their families received essential resources like food, clothing, and bus passes. With the guidance of their dedicated Hope Advocates, they worked towards their goals of employment and self-sufficiency. Their unwavering support for each other extended to childcare and collaborative solutions for gaining independence.

One particularly challenging situation was Iris’s lack of access to identification for herself and her children after escaping an abusive situation. With the help of SafeNest’s funding, Iris journeyed to California to meet with her consulate and successfully obtained passports for her and her sons.

In July, these remarkable survivors secured an apartment together, choosing to continue their mutual support during this transitional period. SafeNest assisted them by covering the security deposit and providing gift cards for furnishing their new home.

Even after leaving the shelter, Daniella and Iris remain connected with their advocate, expressing their gratitude for SafeNest’s invaluable assistance. Both are actively collaborating with our partner, the Immigrant Home Foundation, as they embark on the journey of applying for a U-Visa. This visa, designed for victims of crimes like domestic violence and sexual assault, holds the potential to lead to Permanent Resident status after three years.

The heartwarming conclusion to Daniella and Iris’s journey is that they are thriving. They are eagerly anticipating the acquisition of their Visas and work permits, which will open doors to even brighter futures.

Their story exemplifies the resilience, hope, and empowerment that SafeNest strives to provide for individuals and families in need. As a board member of SafeNest, I am proud to have played a part in Daniella and Iris’s journey and countless others like theirs.

* Client names were changed and stock imagery was used to protect client confidentiality.

Please join me this October by “Investing in the NEST” in support of thousands of survivors like Daniela and Iris who turn daily to SafeNest for help, support, safety, and hope for a brighter future. Your investment will provide emergency shelter and housing for individuals and families and ensure there’s always a compassionate voice on the hotline. It will help provide counseling, legal services, resources for employment and parenting, wraparound services for kids, and much more, including funding prevention programs designed to stop violence before it starts. 

Invest in the Nest TODAY and join me in saving lives, empowering survivors, and building a safer community for everyone. #YouMatter

As a proud member of the Board of Directors at SafeNest, Nevada’s most comprehensive nonprofit dedicated to ending domestic and sexual violence, I’d like to share about the work we do and why this organization means so much to me. 

I don’t often talk about a life that seems so far away. I still feel ashamed, admitting it out loud, knowing I lived it for too many years, having been someone who "stayed," but also because it makes me really sad. And I don’t want to make YOU feel sad.  If you knew me back then (and some of you did), you would have never known what I carried.  Working my dream job, living close to my family, taking trips, moving to Vegas, and at the same time convincing myself that I could love someone enough to make them stop hurting me. You get really good at hiding bruises – the ones on your body as well as the ones on your heart.

It’s still uncomfortable to be open about my experiences and why it’s especially important to me to end the epidemic of domestic violence in our community.  But I share with you today to highlight the fact that domestic violence is not far, it's not an arbitrary idea, and it does not discriminate amongst age, race, class, gender, sexual orientation, any of it. Even if you didn’t know me, I am confident there is someone in your life who knows this violence regardless of whether they have shared it with you.  We are fighting a community issue and if nothing else, my hope is that more of us realize a connection and choose to make a difference.

Nevada generally ranks as one of the top five most dangerous states in the country for women being murdered by men, with Clark County carrying 80-90% of that homicide load. Statistics like these emphasize the importance of the life-saving services SafeNest provides to our community. A safe person to call, a safe place to sleep, a safe community to trust with children or pets, a safe space to heal and pick up the pieces – these are just a few of the life-saving services SafeNest provides.

This month, please consider supporting an organization that does so much for our community. I am working towards an individual goal this month to raise $10,000.  (There is no amount that is too small.)

If you’re interested in learning more, I’d love to talk to you.  If you want to share this message with someone in your life, please pass it along.  There is no end to the stories of how SafeNest changes lives. Thank you for your support in all things and for your consideration of this important cause.

Your gift and your ongoing support mean so much to me. Thank you so much for being with me on this mission to end this epidemic.