Leaving an abusive home is often described as the hardest step in a situation of domestic violence. But for many survivors, what comes next can be just as uncertain or even more difficult to navigate.

After the immediate crisis has passed, survivors are left to navigate a complicated reality of finding stable housing, securing employment, managing legal battles and rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of trauma. 

For survivors who are Desi, rebuilding a sense of safety after breaking a pattern often presents additional barriers — due to cultural stigma, language access, immigration concerns, financial dependency and the pressure of navigating abuse within tight-knit cultural communities.

For more than three decades, the New Jersey–based nonprofit Manavi has supported South Asian survivors facing these realities. Founded in 1985, the organization was among the first in the country dedicated specifically to addressing domestic violence within South Asian communities, providing crisis intervention, legal advocacy, counseling and community education with a cultural lens.

“In my darkest moment, Manavi gave me safety, strength, and dignity — without judgement, and with deep cultural understanding,” said a survivor who shared her story through Manavi Executive Director Navneet Bhalla. “Today, I proudly call myself a survivor.”

A 2021 study of South Asians across the country found that nearly half of South Asians in the U.S. experience physical violence, while over 35% experience forms of both emotional and economic abuse.

As of the 2021 report, there are at least 46 nationally recognized organizations dedicated to serving South Asian survivors nationwide. 

Manavi remains unique in another way. Since 1997, it has operated Ashiana, the only transitional home in the United States specifically designed for South Asian survivors of domestic violence. South Asian women and children who identify as survivors can live there rent-free for up to two years.

While several South Asian domestic violence organizations across the country run emergency shelters, transitional housing programs remain rare, with just a handful across the country. Offering a critical bridge between emergency shelter and long-term independence, transitional homes provide survivors not only time but the skills needed to build their lives after a shelter.

“Isolation is one of the most powerful tools of abuse, especially for South Asian survivors who may already feel disconnected from broader systems,” Bhalla said, adding that Ashiana offers “a culturally specific environment that provides the foundation survivors need to build a future that is safe, independent and self-determined.”

Ashiana has provided support to hundreds of women and their children from all walks of life. In its first five years, Manavi received a total of 329 requests for space in Ashiana from around the country.

“While shelters statewide have limited timeframes for survivors to stay and often only serve as emergency housing, transitional housing programs allow survivors to stay for a longer period while working toward financial independence and permanent housing. Residents may receive support with employment searches, legal processes, counseling, and other services aimed at helping them rebuild their lives after leaving abusive situations.

“​Shelters provide immediate, emergency safety for survivors in crisis, often for a short period of time,” Bhalla said. “Ashiana offers longer-term stability, giving survivors the time, support, and culturally responsive environment they need to rebuild their lives and move toward independence.”

For South Asian survivors navigating immigration status or financial dependency, that period of stability can be especially important. Barriers faced by immigrant survivors often differ from those at mainstream organizations, making survivors of ethnic backgrounds less likely to seek services if an experience is bad the first time they reach out or their culture is not understood.

“Many South Asian survivors, particularly immigrant survivors, face ​unique barriers, including cultural stigma, language barriers, ​financial insecurity, isolation, fears around immigration​ and navigating the various systems,” Bhalla said. Culturally specific organizations like Manavi play a critical role in supporting survivors who may otherwise struggle to access services. Language access, cultural understanding, and familiarity with the dynamics of immigrant families can all make a difference when survivors are deciding whether to seek help. 

“Many South Asian survivors are reluctant to seek help from mainstream agencies, because those systems often don’t understand their cultural realities,” said Bhalla.

As a former transitional housing coordinator at Manavi, I learned how culturally specific services impact the healing process for survivors. Having a home where people can eat familiar foods and hear familiar languages spoken can help survivors feel less uprooted.

Over the last 40 years, Manavi has served thousands of survivors through its programs, while also working to challenge the stigma surrounding domestic violence in South Asian communities through outreach and education.

Beyond immediate crisis support and transitional housing, Manavi provides a wide range of culturally specific services from crisis intervention and legal advocacy to counseling and economic empowerment, designed to support survivors at every stage of their journey. This includes court and medical accompaniment, ensuring survivors are not left to navigate systems alone. As survivors’ needs have evolved, so has Manavi’s approach, expanding beyond emergency response to offer long-term, holistic support that centers on culture and stability.

Manavi staff members shared that previous residents of Ashiana have expressed feelings of isolation and fear when first arriving at the home, but have left confident toward the next steps to independence after receiving culturally responsive support and language access.

While one program cannot address the full scope of domestic violence within the South Asian community, initiatives like Manavi’s transitional housing program represent an important step toward building systems that better support survivors. 

Hardships and trauma do not end when a survivor leaves the abusive home. For many, having a safe place to rebuild after leaving abuse can make the difference between returning to unsafe circumstances and beginning a new chapter.

“Survivors frequently share that Ashiana was a lifeline, providing the cultural understanding and long-term support they needed to heal, feel safe, and build a stable,​ independent future,” Bhalla said.

Manavi provides a range of services, including counseling, advocacy, 24-hour multilingual hotline, a transitional home, sexual assault support services, legal advocacy, support groups, economic empowerment, community outreach, and more. Manavi's staff and volunteers are bilingual, speaking over 14 different South Asian languages. If you or a loved one needs help, call Manavi at 732-435-1414.

Aysha Qamar is a 2025-26 reporting fellow at Central Desi and a freelance journalist based in New Jersey. Her reporting focuses on culture, community, and global affairs.

All images courtesy of Manavi.

May 8 – “Ma” Poetry Event
12 - 1:30 PM
The Book House
321 Millburn Ave
Millburn, NJ
An exclusive poetry event centered around mothers. This is a bilingual event (Hindi/Urdu/English) and features the work of poet Nidhi Thakur. Light refreshments are included. Purchase a ticket and find out more here.

May 9-10 - Asbury Park Spring Bazaar
12 - 5 PM
Grand Arcade Convention Hall
1300 Ocean Ave
Asbury Park, NJ
Spring is almost in full bloom and so is Asbury Park Spring Bazaar! Join us for a vibrant weekend filled with curated shopping, live music, delicious bites, and festive Mother’s Day experiences. See a full list of vendors and activities here.

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