Tannia's
Story: On the Road to Independence
Three Agencies Partner with Wheels
of Success to Provide the Means for Independence
According to The Spring's website, "With
the appropriate tools, victims can become survivors
and live safe, prosperous lives." One
of the tools of independence is having reliable
transportation. Very often, abusers exert
control over their victims by denying them
access to basic resources, like a car. This
makes it is difficult for women to leave abusive
situations and they often return to their abusers
because they feel they have no other choice.
When "Tannia" (whose
name has been changed in this story to protect
her privacy) was referred to WOS just over
one year ago, she was in a troubled and violent
marriage. For her safety and the safety
of her small child, she knew she had to leave
her abusive husband but this also meant leaving
behind her home and most of her possessions.
Tannia sought assistance from the Family Justice
Center, The Spring of Tampa Bay and Bay Area
Legal Services. These three local social
service agencies helped her start over, including
securing employment and providing shelter and
legal advice.
Wheels of Success then
provided Tannia with the final key to her independence
with a "new to her" car at our
inaugural Biggest Aquarian Birthday Bash, and
after successfully completed the WOS program,
Tannia was presented with her vehicle's
title one year later.
Because of the help she received, as well as
her strong work ethic and determination to
make it on her own, Tannia's life has
changed dramatically over the past year. Her
car has provided her with the means to get
her daughter to preschool and speech therapy
on time, and she has been promoted three times
this year--including her latest promotion to
a management position.
Most importantly, Tannia is no longer dependent
upon her former abuser for transportation,
so she has not been tempted to return to him
as so many others in her situation do. Her
vehicle has been a key component in stopping
the cycle of abuse.
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Wheels
of Success is Tampa Bay's only 501(c)3 nonprofit organization
providing a full range of transportation solutions, including
vehicle replacement; car repair; and licensing, car payment and
down payment assistance to low and moderate income working families.