PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Crystal Murall on Her Experience with Domestic Violence and the Shelter System
1:38:56
·
3 min
Crystal Murall shares her personal journey of escaping domestic violence and navigating the New York City shelter system. She describes the challenges she faced, including the initial intake process, placement in various shelters, and the struggle to access basic resources and support.
- Murall highlights the lack of preparedness and support in the shelter system, including threats of being sent back to her abuser and having to constantly advocate for herself and her child.
- She emphasizes the traumatizing aspects of the system that was supposed to help her, including denial of public assistance and short notice for shelter transfers.
- Despite the obstacles, Murall was eventually able to secure permanent housing and start her own business, as well as become an advocate for other survivors through her organization, Sisters in Purple.
Crystal Murall
1:38:56
is Crystal Morell, and as of August 7 2024, I have finally and legally defeated domestic violence.
1:39:03
As you know, domestic violence is not always violent, and I've experienced many forms of abuse since I was a child before Vale was enacted.
1:39:13
On September 3 2016, I packed what I had, and I left along with my eight month old daughter.
1:39:19
Ninety miles outside of the city, all of my fans, all of my plans, fell apart, but there was no turning back because the last conversation I had with my abuser, I said, I would rather be homeless than to spend another night with you in this house.
1:39:35
On September 17th, I made a decision to go to path.
1:39:39
Hours, after hours of waiting, I was finally interviewed by a Novo worker then informed me that there may be a possibility that I would be sent back to Buffalo, sent back to my abuser because if I had lack of proof of my abuse, aside from a copy of a police order where he threatened to blow my face off if I had him arrested after strangling me.
1:40:04
Around 2 AM now, September 18th, we were placed in a homeless hotel in Queens.
1:40:10
And we were told that a bus would come back to get us or return us back to Path.
1:40:15
The bus never returned.
1:40:16
So me being in New Yorker because New York City is my home, I knew how to get back to Path.
1:40:21
But unfortunately, had to start the intake process all over again.
1:40:26
We weren't placed until Monday night in safe Verizon's Willow House in the Bronx, although I wasn't d v eligible for another 10 days pending investigation.
1:40:38
As safe horizon, I was further abused and traumatized by a system that was supposed to help me.
1:40:44
I was denied the opportunity to apply for public assistance and was threatened with being discharged for and so.
1:40:51
From then on, I had to advocate for every single thing that I needed.
1:40:57
With little notice of timing out, I was giving 6 days of knowing when we would be timed out.
1:41:05
Again, I had to return to path to replacing the THS shelter.
1:41:10
Upon arriving at the THS shelter, I was informed there were no resources to help me.
1:41:15
There was no food.
1:41:17
There was no toiletries.
1:41:18
There was no pantry.
1:41:19
They couldn't even give me a metro card.
1:41:24
Again, I had to advocate for myself to get the bare minimum of what I needed to provide for myself and my child.
1:41:32
Once my nitrile priority had been upgraded to n 1.
1:41:36
After 3 months, 9 days before Christmas 2017, we were finally in our permanent home.
1:41:43
Because I advocated for myself, I was able to start my own business in the V shelter, as well as my advocacy for survivors, for victims, and for abuses alike with sisters in purple.
1:41:55
Thank you for your time.
