When Tymora’s youngest child was 8-months-old, things went bad with her baby’s father. "He was violent and had a gun," she said. She had to get out.

She called a hotline number and was referred to Women’s Advocates, a United Way partner agency in St. Paul that provides a safe crisis shelter to women and their children.

With nothing but the clothes on her and her three children’s backs, Tymora stayed at Women’s Advocates for about three weeks. "My care workers were really nice to me," she said, adding that they provided her with everything—three meals a day, snacks, fruit, school supplies for her older kids and diapers for her baby. Luckily, she and her three kids were able to stay in the same room together.

Like all the women who stay with Women’s Advocates, Tymora was assessed for physical, emotional and other forms of abuse so the proper services and referrals can be provided. Follow-up support is also provided. Tymora received furniture to start a new home and new life for her family: "I’ve got a fresh start."

Women's Advocates serves about 1,000 women and children each year.

United Way’s Agenda for Lasting Change focuses on 10 measurable goals in our three focus areas: Meeting Basic Needs, Supporting Health and Independence and Nurturing Children and Families. One goal is reducing family violence by increasing access to services 20 percent by 2012.

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