I felt so lucky and blessed. I arrived at the apartment with just the suitcase that I had arrived at the refuge with.

Josephine is really looking forward to the future now she is living in a safe home that she can call her own. 

The 26-year-old and her four-year-old son have lived in her Home in Place managed two-bedroom apartment in Auckland for almost three years.

After fleeing domestic violence, Josephine and her son lived in a women’s refuge for two months. She describes getting her apartment as her breakthrough moment.

“When the property manager showed me the apartment I remember feeling over the moon,” Josephine recalls.

“I felt so lucky and blessed. I arrived at the apartment with just the suitcase that I had arrived at the refuge with. The charity Woven Earth had helped make the place a home – there was a bed made for me, a crib for my son, some toys for him, crockery and cookware in the cupboard and some food in the fridge.”

“I love my apartment and the view. The neighbourhood is great, and it is close to my son’s school. I can get the train to university. The complex is clean and the cleaners are so friendly.” 

“Most importantly I have a safe and stable place for me and my son.” 

Josephine says that if it wasn’t for her home and the support of Home in Place and others she would not be where she is today. Since moving in, she has completed a diploma in sports exercise and recreation. She is now completing a degree in occupational therapy at AUT part time.

“The Home in Place property manager and staff are amazing. They helped me fill in the forms initially. They didn’t judge me. I felt respected and dignified.”

“It was difficult to leave my situation. I was nervous but I knew I had to take the leap. I had great social workers and the women’s refuge staff were amazing.”

“I have had some counselling and done some courses to help reclaim myself.”

Josephine wants to build a career in occupational therapy, working with children or in the mental health space. 

She says it is hard sometimes balancing being a single mum, studying and making ends meet. But she has overcome adversity before; having come to Wellington from war torn Sudan as a six-year-old.