Story of Justice: CCLA Keeps Anna Safe & Housed

Anna, 65 years old, was a victim of repeated verbal abuse from her boyfriend. One night, it turned physical when Anna’s boyfriend grabbed her by her hair and threw her to the ground. As she cried, he screamed, threatening to hurt her even more. Knowing she was injured, he grabbed Anna’s phone out of her hand and began to stomp on it, so she couldn’t call for help. As soon as she could get away, Anna ran to her neighbor’s home to call the police. As her boyfriend fled from their mobile home, he managed to shut the water off.

The police arrived, found and arrested her boyfriend. They were able to remove the lock that her boyfriend used to turn the water off. Her victim advocate told her about injunctions and Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida’s services for seniors and victims of crime. Anna went to the Broward County Courthouse and filed a Petition for Injunction Against Domestic Violence. The Court granted Anna a Temporary Injunction for Protection and scheduled a final hearing on the Petition. She came to CCLA to represent her for that hearing. During the Temporary Injunction period, Anna’s boyfriend continued to harass and stalk Anna. We helped Anna with an Affidavit of Violation. With CCLA’s assistance, the final hearing resulted in the entry of a Final Judgment of Protection Against Domestic Violence until further order of the court. Without our representation, Anna said she may have chosen not to follow through and would have continued to live in paralyzing fear.

After ending her relationship, Anna was stranded without a car and unable to work. At the mobile home, she was sent letters and threatened with both unlawful detainer and eviction actions. Then, Anna’s landlord filed an eviction action against her and her boyfriend. Without our continued legal assistance, Anna would have been forced from her home with nowhere to go, no car, and no employment. The threat of eviction created the perfect storm for Anna and she again found herself terrified. Often, this vulnerable time is when victims may return to their abusers.

Instead, CCLA represented Anna for her eviction matter. The landlord amended their complaint to remove Anna from it, agreed to allow Anna to voluntarily leave, and voluntarily dismissed the eviction against her. Because the eviction matter was favorably resolved, it does not adversely affect her record. CCLA negotiated a time frame for Anna to leave, with the landlord allowing her the time to make more thoughtful decisions, obtain assistance, and relocate.

Anna was able to relocate safely and confidently with her Final Judgment of Injunction for Protection Against Domestic Violence. CCLA worked with our community partners to get Anna victim relocation funds to assist with her move.

CCLA’s Rights In Systems Enforced (RISE) project then assisted Anna to assert and enforce her rights as a victim throughout the criminal case against her boyfriend. CCLA made sure Anna’s voice was heard. Speaking to Anna now, you can hear the relief in her voice. She has purchased a car and is looking for part time work. She is regaining more strength each day.