Housing crunch causing stress

Finding affordable housing is a major stressor that may put more women at risk for violence in Labrador West.

That is the fear, according to Marsha Power-Slade, executive director of Hope Haven, an emergency shelter for women experiencing domestic violence.

Housing is critical

“We’re at a critical stage in our community with housing, it’s not only affecting people on low income, but people who have very good jobs,” she said.  “Violence is affecting everyone in our community and everyone’s a risk for it.”

She noted low-income is a big stressor that puts women at a risk for violence, but now with more people worried about securing a home and sustainability of housing, the stress might put even more women at risk.

 “Violence exists in every community across Canada and across the world – violence against women exists everywhere,” she said.  “Depending on stressors in the community and in peoples’ individual lives, it can all alter how much abuse we will see.”

Always occupied

“It exists here,” she added.  “Obviously, we’re occupied almost every day of the year.  Over the past three years, I wouldn’t be able to say we have peak times anymore.  Now, it’s a continuous basis.”

According to studies conducted in Hope Heaven, 47 residents used the transition house last year and the house was occupied 321 days of the same year.

“Our occupancy days have continued to increase significantly over the years, especially since we’ve opened this building – now we have residents almost every day of the year,” said Power-Slade.

Not giving up

She said the organization wasn’t able to secure the funding for 10 new affordable housing units, but they’re not giving up.  She said the organization is applying for funding to help facilitate a community plan on housing and is finding ways to develop more affordable housing.

Although the mandate of Hope Haven is to provide services specifically for women experiencing violence, she noted, they still take crisis calls, information requests, and make referrals for anyone in the community.

She emphasized it’s not a homeless shelter, but workers at Hope Haven try to provide assistance no matter what the calls are, including homelessness, addiction, male abuse, and suicide.

Services lacking

“We have certainly identified gaps in services in our community, region, and province,” she said.

For example, after five p.m. services are critical, she said, and some organizations just don’t provide that.

Also, when calling a mental health line, a person might not be seen by a professional until the next day, unless it’s urgent, she added, and if a person needs a place to stay, they might not meet the requirements of a specific organization.

However, Hope Haven, she described, is a non-judgmental place for women fleeing from violence, whether it be physical, sexual, emotional, or financial abuse.

Most dangerous time

“The most dangerous time in a women’s relationship is the day she decides to leave, especially if it’s a very physically violent relationship,” noted Power-Slade.

Depending on what is happening, she added, a safety plan is always recommended, which includes having a cell phone, telling a friend or family member, having a codeword, having a bank account set up, and having a bag ready with what you need.

Often, she said, women don’t want to disrupt the lives of their children and they still have deep-rooted feelings for the abuser, but they decide enough is enough and act to make their lives better.

Misconception

“A misconception about staying in a shelter is that it’s an institutional environment,” she said.  “We need to have policies and procedures, but we try to make it like a home.”

Many women are not ready to leave, she said, but Hope Haven makes sure that they’re informed about their options.

The organization is there to give their full support, she added, when women are isolated from family and friends because they left before and then came back.

Success

“A success to us is when a woman is safe and when she’s looking for help, whether that means she’s got a safety plan but isn’t ready to leave, it’s still a success,” she said. 

“Anyone standing up and saying that violence against women isn’t okay, is also a success.”

She noted violence is rooted in the belief that women are inferior, but there is a growing movement towards equality and a rising awareness that violence against women is unacceptable.

Power-Slade said Hope Haven has several things on the go to increase awareness such as launching a new website in October, celebrating Take Back the Night in September, and organizing activities for Violence Awareness Month in February.

She feels it’s important everyone’s aware of what a healthy relationship is, to identify what’s not acceptable, and to stand up against violence.