Life had been going along pretty much as Adele had always planned. She stayed at home, raising her four kids while her husband went off to work every morning. They owned a comfortable house in Dollard des Ormeaux and, though the mortgage consumed a considerable amount of their monthly budget, she had no reason to worry about whether the payments would be met.

Suddenly, things began to go horribly wrong. Her husband started coming home later and later, muttering about having had to work. His appearance became disheveled. He made excuses about why less money was coming in. When Adele complained that she didn’t have enough to pay the bills, he became sullen and verbally aggressive. Gradually, his behaviour became more abusive toward Adele and the children. She was horrified to discover that he was taking drugs.

She did her best to talk to her husband, to try to coax him into counseling. However, her efforts only served to enrage him. When he failed to seek help for his drug problem, and fell further into the throes of addiction, Adele realized there was no hope for the marriage.

She didn’t come to this decision impulsively, but only after deep soul searching about what was best in the long run for her children. She couldn’t raise them in a destructive environment. She insisted that her husband leave their home and began divorce proceedings.

With no immediate family, she was in a quandary as to where to turn for help. So, she looked to her Jewish community, calling Jewish Family Services (JFS).

JFS counsellors met with her to assess, and provide for, her immediate needs while giving her much needed emotional support. They helped her to take the necessary legal steps to ensure her own safety, and that of her children.

Initially, she wanted to sell the family home. But, as it was listed in both her and her husband’s names, and he was being difficult, she was unable to do so. JFS offered her enough financial support that she could put food on the table and pay the utilities until this impasse was resolved. Her counsellor set up a meeting with a financial advisor, who volunteers his services to the Jewish community. He succeeded in devising a plan whereby she could stay in her home and helped her to budget her finances.

For some time, she was reluctant to take on a full time job because she felt that her children needed her to be available so they could cope with all the turmoil. Adele’s JFS counsellor instilled her with the confidence she needed to get her life back on track. With her home situation stabilized, JFS referred her to Jewish Employment Montreal, which worked together with Adele and her JFS worker to find a part-time job that brings in a modest income, while enabling her to devote the necessary time to her children.

Adele is extremely grateful to JFS for the material assistance and emotional support that got her through the most difficult parts of her ordeal. Though things have gotten better, she continues to see her counsellor and to rely on JFS for the long journey ahead.

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