Going around and around in circles and being referred back and forth with mind-numbing regularity, it's little wonder Sarah's world is a constant state of déjà vu.
No matter what government agency, community support group or advisory service she turns to for help, they all slide her in the direction of one another until she's dizzy from getting pushed from pillar to post.
After being beaten by her now estranged husband, moved in and out of a Richmond women's crisis home run by CHIMO and now scraping by on income assistance with her two-year-old son, Australian native Sarah has just about given up digging around for help.
All she wants is to go back to Australia with her young son, Simon, but is barred from doing so due to a custody battle with her abusive Canadian husband, from whom she has a restraining order.
In the meantime, she's trapped in a country that can barely afford to support her and a province that seems unable to deal with her unique set of circumstances.
"Everyone says the same thing. They say they want to help, but when it comes down to it, they just pass me onto a place that I've already been to," said Sarah (name changed for security).
"I still get counselling from CHIMO and I'm able to call someone there every night.
"But I keep getting referred on by everyone, I can't seem to get anywhere and I'm wasting precious money on phone calls.
"I just wish there was a lawyer somewhere that could help me get back to Australia and get home to where all my support is."
Sarah's been to the Ministry of Children for help and they can offer a childcare subsidy, if she gets work.
But she can't get work because - having just $125 left out of her monthly income assistance to feed and cloth her and her child - she can't afford the childcare to go look for work and attend interviews.
As the News reported last week, Sarah has no family or friends to fall back on in Richmond, B.C. or even Canada.
"I was rejected (for the subsidy) as I was not looking for work," she said.
"I went to Victim Services and was told to contact BC Enquiry regarding child minding, but they referred me back to the ministry.
"I rang the crime victim assistant program to see if I qualified for the child program to help out with childcare, but, again, was referred to victim services or the ministry."
She also called Richmond MP Alice Wong for help.
"Her secretary told me that they're unable to help as my case was in court and that I have to go back to court and ask for help," she added.
At last, an organization called the Ending Violence Association of BC appeared to be able to plug Sarah into a number of support networks.
However, they, too, were simply referring her to the doors of agencies or organizations she'd already knocked on.
Despite seeming to have no way out, CHIMO insists it has solutions, of sort, to help Sarah break free from the revolving door she's caught in.
"Sarah's unique situation calls for support from multiple angles," said Luke Lin, outreach and advocacy coordinator at CHIMO.
"We are experienced in providing wrap-around assistance to individuals and families with issues concerning domestic violence, housing, family law, and financial difficulties."
CHIMO said it can provide support for people like Sarah through the following services:
Women's counselling; outreach and advocacy (custody assistance, peace bonds, restraining orders and developing safety plans including accompaniment to legal appointments and court hearings); advocates and pro-bono lawyers works together to provide free legal assistance for those who cannot afford a lawyer and do not qualify for legal aid.
Trained advocates will also help ensure that people such as Sarah submit all the necessary claim forms, according to CHIMO.
And, although they can't provide the childcare Sarah quite obviously needs, CHIMO said it can provide a one-on-one session to assess whether retuning to work is a possibility.
Anyone who thinks they might need the help of CHIMO can contact them on 604-247-1175 or email outreach@chimocrisis. com.
Last week and on Wednesday, the News told how Sarah fled to Australia from Richmond Hospital after another beating at the hands of her husband.
She returned with promises he had changed before she fled the family home once again, this time to CHIMO's transition home for abused women and now finds herself living in a basement suite with her little boy. Generous News readers have since came forward with unsolicited donations for Sarah and Simon, such as TVs, gift cards, clothes, food, furniture, toys and bedding..
