Sometimes it takes more than one stay at Harbor House for survivors to find their footing and move on the path to safety. For Hailey, it took three, ranging from a weekend to several months.

Her first stay was the longest – nearly eight months. During this time, she began to heal both her physical and psychological wounds. When she exited, she had found employment and housing for her and her young son, and was receiving ongoing case management and assistance through Harbor House’s outreach program, SAFE.

Her second stay came after she moved states for a fresh start. Her former abuser continued to stalk and harass her from afar, so Harbor House staff arranged for her to return to Wichita and receive in-shelter services again. After six weeks, she successfully exited into her own housing once again.

Her final stay lasted only a weekend. She returned after her former abuser choked her son during a visitation, landing him in prison and Hailey’s son in foster care. This time, she came to shelter to regroup, have the support of a court advocate, and create a new safe housing plan.

Hailey has since been reunited with her son, and is using her experiences to help others. She is now an advocate for a social service agency which focuses on improving health through primary care and prevention. Hailey and her son are both happy and healthy, thanks in large part to the commitment and compassion of Harbor House staff.

Queen Bee 2023