And Venus Arcana Atelier
Temecula, CA
Wish I could say I had a wonderful experience with SAFE Family Justice Center. When I first reached out, I was homeless and was connected with helpful resources and spoke with a compassionate staff member, which I truly appreciated. However, when I returned several months later as a victim of domestic violence, my experience was far less supportive. I received very limited assistance in filing a DVRO, essentially being left to navigate the paperwork on my own while staff only checked in periodically. I was not adequately prepared for what to expect in court and had to face my abuser alone, which was extremely retraumatizing. Shortly after my DVRO was granted, SAFE stopped reaching out entirely. I received no therapy services, no guidance on other resources that could help, and no information on how to apply for CALVCB or whether I was even eligible. I’ve been left to cope with the trauma of domestic violence on my own. I hope that sharing my experience helps others be better supported and that SAFE improves the follow-up, resources, and ongoing care for survivors.

