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Surviving Abuse —
South Middlesex Legal Services
Alma and Ben had come from another country, leaving their infant son with his parents. Ben had abused Alma from the beginning of the marriage, once leaving a scar on her arm from a knife. He also slapped her, punched and pushed her to the floor. He forced her to leave the son behind and refused to let her call his parents to speak with their son. After moving to Massachusetts, they had a daughter. Then, one day, Ben abruptly left his family without a penny. After he left, Alma felt lost. She did not make enough money as a housekeeper to pay for rent and daycare, so she lost her job and her apartment. She called South Middlesex Legal Services (SMLS) for help.
The attorney from SMLS referred her to a housing search agency, a battered women's counselor and helped her apply for government medical and financial assistance. Through SMLS' Domestic Violence Project, funded in part by the Acton-Boxborough United Way, Alma was divorced from Ben and was awarded sole custody of their daughter. Ben was ordered to pay child support. Sadly, the court in Massachusetts could not order Ben to give Alma access to their son, who still lives abroad. Still, Alma has a new job and home, as well as a new confidence that she can survive on her own.
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