After enduring years of abuse, a Connecticut woman says she has broken the cycle of violence and is now helping other battered women.

Iris Ruiz works at the Interval House, a shelter for battered women, where she was once sheltered.

Ruiz said she was in an abusive relationship 28 years ago.

"For myself, it was mental, physical, sexual," she said.

She said counselors at the shelter not only offered her a sanctuary, but perspective.

"I was finally able to get out of the relationship after 13 years. I guess that finally my intellect took over my emotions," she said. "I realized that the batterer was not going to change."

Ruiz now uses her experiences to help other women in abusive relationships. Many of the women credit her with helping them change their lives.

"I am responsible for overseeing our 24-hour hot line where we deliver services to victims of domestic violence 24 hours a day. Also, we have our shelter program, where we have emergency, temporary shelter for battered women and their children who are not safe in their homes," Ruiz said.

She said that thousands of women in the greater Hartford area call the hot line each year seeking advice or sanctuary.

"We have women coming in … in the middle of the night without, you know, shoes," she said. "They've had to run out of their homes."

She said the counselors at the house help women develop safety plans.

"What we're doing really is preparing battered women and other victims of domestic violence for the event that there is an emergency or situation where they need to get away," Ruiz said. "Also, if someone needs a restraining order or needs information about custody, child support and so on … we do that."

Jampa Williams, a victim of domestic violence who also suffers from breast cancer, said Ruiz helped change her life.

"She was actually able to find a grant to help me specifically from a foundation specifically that helps women that have cancer and have gone through abuse," Williams said.

Brenda St. Martin said she also received support from Ruiz.

"I cam in here holding my head down and thinking that a lot of my issues were not good, that I wasn't accomplishing anything. Iris continually reminds me of the good things that I'm accomplishing," St. Martin said.

Ruiz said the organization also helps victims of abuse in court.

Carmen Sarmiento said that is where she first learned about the group.

"I didn't know … this wonderful place," she said. "When the first time I went to court, I didn't know that there was this place."

In addition to advising clients, Ruiz also works to raise money for the charity.

"She is out in the community and is always talking about Interval House, always trying to get us donations," said Cecile Enrico of the organization. "We need to keep our telephones operating, we need electricity, and we need just to pay for the programs which we provide."

Enrico said the Interval House is always in need of donations of linens and used cell phones.

"One of the items that we desperately need is a new 12-passenger van and we use this to transport the women, the children and do a lot of activities," Enrico said.

For more information about the Interval House, including how to make a donation, visit the group's Web site.

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