Between rising costs, heightened fear, and restrictive changes to public benefits, low-income immigrants are facing more than legal uncertainty. Work has become more difficult to find. Housing, food, and basic essentials have become prohibitively expensive. Even worse, trauma-informed, language accessible mental health services can feel harder to reach.
For immigrants who’ve experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other traumatic crimes, these challenges only become more complex.
At Ayuda, we’re proud to help immigrant survivors navigate these barriers through our social services program. Through culturally specific and trauma-informed case management, clients like Ana* can reclaim their sense of control and find stability.
When she first came to Ayuda, Ana felt completely hopeless and overwhelmed. She had been living in constant fear of immigration enforcement and was terrified to leave her home or engage with any court systems, immigration agencies, or even nonprofits like Ayuda.
On top of that, she was carrying the deep trauma of exploitation and had very limited support. Everything in her life felt uncertain and unsafe. Over time, through consistent case management, safety planning, and connections to legal and mental health resources, Ana slowly began to rebuild trust.
For the first time in a long time, she felt like she could breathe and imagine a future for herself.
Today, Ana is moving into her own apartment with support from Ayuda’s funding and advocacy. She will also participate in our hospitality training this year to receive additional assistance in workforce development.
Ana’s experience is a powerful reminder of the impact of holistic support and the importance of creating a space where survivors feel safe, believed, and empowered.
Ana’s story first appeared in Ayuda’s 2025 Impact Report. Click here to view more client journeys made possible with your support.
*Name has been changed to protect our client’s privacy.