"I got back on my feet and found my dream job, thanks to UCM. My future and my daughter's future are looking bright." Lillian was a client with her young daughter in our transitional housing program for domestic violence survivors. Working closing with her UCM case manager, Lillian has made significant progress on the path to emotional healing and financial stability. Thanks to UCM and your support, she has secured a new full-time position as a catering manager at a large hotel chain on Capitol Hill.
Friends Used to Call Her "Princess"
Why? Because she had met her Prince Charming and was living a fairy tale life. Lillian’s husband Zachary, an international executive, took them all over the world, staying in 5-star resorts with their nanny and a driver in tow.
Friends Used to Call Her "Princess"
Why? Because she had met her Prince Charming and was living a fairy tale life. Lillian’s husband Zachary, an international executive, took them all over the world, staying in 5-star resorts with their nanny and a driver in tow.
But after five years of marriage, Lillian’s fairy tale had quickly changed to a nightmare. Her husband had become dependent on prescription drugs and eventually cocaine.That's when the emotional and physical abuse started. Lillian finally took action to leave him one day when they were driving to visit his parents in Virginia, with their then 3-year-old daughter in the back seat. A verbal argument erupted that turned physical. Her husband started beating and then choking Lillian inside the vehicle. Thankfully, the people in the car behind them witnessed the violence and called 911 requesting immediate police intervention.
Her husband was arrested for assault, with a 2-year protective order. But since at the time Lillian was in the US on a tourist Visa, she was not allowed to work here. Upon their separation, Zachary cut her off from all financial assets, which left her and their daughter without any resources and living on the street. With much perseverance, Lillian was able to secure a place for herself and her daughter at a Fairfax County shelter for women and families fleeing domestic violence.
Finding Help at UCM
At that point, she was eligible for and accepted into UCM's transitional housing program. But her husband had filed for full legal and physical custody of their daughter. With stable housing and caring compassion of her UCM case manager, the ample resources of the transitional housing program, Lillian obtained the appropriate Visa and immigration status to work in the US. Now in the position to pursue the necessary legal actions to obtain custody of her daughter and full-time employment, Lillian has been motivated and positive while moving forward.
"I Got My Dream Job, Thanks to UCM."
This past year, with the help of a UCM job coach to improve her resume and interviewing skills, Lillian landed a job as a catering manager at a large Capitol Hill hotel chain. Now financially stable, she has begun the process to transition out of the UCM program into her own apartment with her daughter.
"I started looking for a job on my own with no luck and only one interview from all my applications," she explains. With the help of her case manager, Lillian was able to get her Visa to work here, but her job search was a bit complicated. "My main challenge was to adapt all my job experience according to the USA standards and make it look very professional in my resume," she tells us. "And I learned my interviewing skills, including the right words and body language, were not very polished either.
"I received all the tips, guidance, and support I needed. His commitment and professionalism as well as his expertise gave me a lot of confidence. I learned new ways to find a job and to research the right contacts. In less than one week, I already had 2 interviews!"
Now that she is on her way to financial stability and with her divorce finalized, Lillian is looking forward with a postive outlook. Her new employer promotes from within, and she is optimistic about a good career path there. "My future and my daughter's future are looking bright," she tells us. "Thank you to everyone at UCM who made this possible."
Her husband was arrested for assault, with a 2-year protective order. But since at the time Lillian was in the US on a tourist Visa, she was not allowed to work here. Upon their separation, Zachary cut her off from all financial assets, which left her and their daughter without any resources and living on the street. With much perseverance, Lillian was able to secure a place for herself and her daughter at a Fairfax County shelter for women and families fleeing domestic violence.
Finding Help at UCM
At that point, she was eligible for and accepted into UCM's transitional housing program. But her husband had filed for full legal and physical custody of their daughter. With stable housing and caring compassion of her UCM case manager, the ample resources of the transitional housing program, Lillian obtained the appropriate Visa and immigration status to work in the US. Now in the position to pursue the necessary legal actions to obtain custody of her daughter and full-time employment, Lillian has been motivated and positive while moving forward.
"I Got My Dream Job, Thanks to UCM."
This past year, with the help of a UCM job coach to improve her resume and interviewing skills, Lillian landed a job as a catering manager at a large Capitol Hill hotel chain. Now financially stable, she has begun the process to transition out of the UCM program into her own apartment with her daughter.
"I started looking for a job on my own with no luck and only one interview from all my applications," she explains. With the help of her case manager, Lillian was able to get her Visa to work here, but her job search was a bit complicated. "My main challenge was to adapt all my job experience according to the USA standards and make it look very professional in my resume," she tells us. "And I learned my interviewing skills, including the right words and body language, were not very polished either.
"I received all the tips, guidance, and support I needed. His commitment and professionalism as well as his expertise gave me a lot of confidence. I learned new ways to find a job and to research the right contacts. In less than one week, I already had 2 interviews!"
Now that she is on her way to financial stability and with her divorce finalized, Lillian is looking forward with a postive outlook. Her new employer promotes from within, and she is optimistic about a good career path there. "My future and my daughter's future are looking bright," she tells us. "Thank you to everyone at UCM who made this possible."
