Niku’s Story: Finding Her Voice at Yorktown Family Services

When Niku* and her two young daughters, aged two and three, arrived at Yorktown Family Services’ Violence Against Women Shelter, they were fleeing an abusive relationship and facing an uncertain future. Having migrated to Canada only months earlier, Niku spoke very little English. During intake, she avoided eye contact and spoke softly — her exhaustion and fear evident.

Recognizing the language barrier, Yorktown’s multilingual, multicultural team arranged for cultural interpreters to complete her assessment and connect Niku with critical supports. The team’s first priority was safety and stability. Yorktown’s Child Advocate workers helped secure daycare for her daughters and a pediatrician for one child with serious health concerns. They accompanied them to medical appointments, supported Niku with her parenting, and helped her navigate unfamiliar systems. Staff connected Niku with legal aid and arranged interpretation for court appearances, ensuring she could understand and advocate for herself every step of the way.

Finding Her Voice

Months later, during a counselling session, Niku spoke with a mix of tears and laughter. She explained that when she first arrived, she would say ‘yes’ to everything, even when she didn’t understand. She had been scared, confused, and unsure of what lay ahead. Niku shared with joy that she feels confident, strong, and capable. She spoke with emotion about the kindness and patience of staff who invested in her and her daughters. 

Through counselling, advocacy, childcare, and housing supports, Niku says she gained not only resources but courage — the tools to move forward and create a safe, stable life for herself and her daughters. Her tears, she said, were tears of gratitude — for the team that stood beside her when she couldn’t yet find the words. 

For Yorktown’s Violence Against Women Shelter team, witnessing Niku’s transformation affirms the power of trauma-informed, culturally responsive care — and the profound resilience of the women and families who guide our work every day.

How Yorktown’s Violence Against Women Services Can Help

Yorktown’s Violence Against Women Services provides a vital lifeline for women and children escaping abuse—offering not only safety but a pathway to healing and independence. More than a roof, the shelter delivers counselling, safety planning, parenting supports, nutritious meals, and crisis intervention. Families find dignity and belonging through the care of a multilingual, multicultural team available 24/7. Despite challenges created by the housing crisis and complex family needs, Yorktown’s staff continue to respond with compassion and innovation—guided, always, by the courage and resilience of the women and children we serve.

Helping More Women Find Their Voice

Niku’s journey reflects what is possible when women and children have access to trauma-informed, culturally responsive supports the moment they need them. The demand for life-saving gender-based violence services continues to grow, and programs that help families regain safety, confidence, and stability are at risk without dedicated funding. Your support helps ensure every woman who arrives at our doors — overwhelmed, afraid, or unable to advocate for herself — can receive immediate safety, counselling, child and family supports, and the resources needed to rebuild her life. Hope starts with safety. Your support makes that possible, giving more women the chance to find their voice and move forward with strength.

To support this work or learn how you can help make home safe for every family, visit https://www.yorktownfamilyservices.com/make-home-safe-for-everyone/

*Name has been changed for privacy.