Domestic violence is one of the main causes of homelessness in Canadian families (Baker et al 2010, Ponic & Jolegaonker 2010).
In addition to physical, mental and emotional abuse women are also often subjected to financial abuse, which impacts their ability to meet the basic needs of the family – food security, bill payments, extra-curricular activities. The struggle can be overwhelming and can result in women returning to a potentially unsafe situation.
The Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters (2007-2008) stated that “57 per cent of women who stayed in emergency shelters in the past returned to the same relationship, citing the following reasons for return: lack of affordable housing (42 per cent), lack of money (45 per cent), fear (38 per cent).
Sometimes women fleeing violence can be admitted to a secure shelter that is able to offer support for up to three weeks. Evidence shows that families need much more than three weeks to heal and stabilize. This is where second stage housing can play an important role.
Second stage housing is defined as housing that offers a safe, longer term (six months to 24 months) residence. Wrap-around services critical to meeting the needs of the women and children during the healing process are available to them in this setting.
Safe and secure second stage housing is identified in the continuum of housing needs in St. Albert and could be part of the long range planning in the city.
There are several questions women are challenged with when making the decision to leave an abusive home. These include: “Where am I going to live and how will I be able to afford it?”, “How am I going to actually move myself and my children?”, “Will my partner follow me?”, “The nearest shelter is four hours away – how can I continue to work?”, “How will I get my children to school?”
Second stage housing within St. Albert would help to address these questions. The women and their children will be safe and secure in their own neighbourhood so the children will not have to leave their school and other supports.
While housed in second stage the women and their families will be able to benefit from professional counselling and other life skills training as needed without feeling rushed. They can heal and stabilize at a slower pace all while paying rent that is geared to their current income.
Having to face all of the challenges mentioned is daunting enough but, according to the S.A.I.F. (Stop Abuse In Families) Society, the women may face their greatest danger when actually leaving the home so it is imperative that they have a safe, secure place to go to.
The Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters has stated that information gathered in 2014 demonstrated the importance of and the increasing need for second-stage housing. They found that of 229 women and 382 children residing in Alberta’s second-stage housing, 72 per cent of these women and children were in severe or extreme risk of femicide, which has been defined as the act of the killing of a woman by a domestic partner.
Suzan Krecsy is the director of the St. Albert Food Bank. This column was written in partnership with Caroline Smiegeleski, executive director of SAIF Society.
