by Deborah Rogers –
Every night in Canada over 6,000 women and children resort to sleeping in a shelter because they are not safe in their homes due to intimate partner abuse. Every single night. In their lifetimes, one in three women will experience violence or abuse from an intimate partner. These sobering statistics were how Susan Howard introduced the organization she works for, the Victoria Women’s Transition House Society (VWTH), my subject for Behind the Scenes this month. She didn’t tell me to upset me, or frighten me, but to iterate how abuse persists despite awareness campaigns and education; that since they started in 1975 the need for shelter and support for women and children has never diminished, and in fact over the past two years has increased significantly.
We held our interview via Zoom, and not just because Covid rules require online meetings. The location of the womens’ transition house is not shared or publicized. When a woman needs to escape her unsafe home she needs to go somewhere that she cannot be found. From the safety of my home I learned from Susan about the many ways that abuse affects our society.
Previously referred to as domestic violence, today the phrase “intimate partner violence” is used instead. This broader term connects to the heart of the issue – this is abuse that happens within a relationship, where one partner abuses their power to control through fear, threats and violence. To suffer this form of abuse is extremely damaging. As well as the physical implications of violent and sexual assult, abuse from a partner can change the way you feel about yourself and the way you see and react to the world around you. It has long-lasting effects too. There’s much research to show that children who witness intimate partner abuse (typically involving a parent) carry the trauma with them into their adult lives: they can become abusers themselves, or be at increased risk of suffering from the same type of abuse. This is one of the reasons that VWTH focuses its support on not just women, but also their children.
Despite the name, Victoria Women’s Transition House serves women and children from Sooke to Sidney. If you live on the Saanich Peninsula and need advice, counselling or somewhere safe to escape, the organization is there for you. Access to services typically begins with the 24hr crisis line. Anyone can (last year 3,100 did) call 250-385-6611 and they will get information and guidance from trained volunteers and staff. If you are experiencing abuse you can call. If you are afraid for your future safety you can call. If you are worried about someone you know you can call. If you experienced abuse in the past, or witnessed abuse as a child you can call. If you fear for your immediate safety you should call 911.
I asked Susan if she could tell me anything about who their services support. Her overriding message is that victims of intimate partner violence come from across our community. They are all ages, cultures and backgrounds. A more affluent woman might have more options when it comes to leaving an abusive relationship, but they still have the same need for support and counselling.
It’s recognized that the most dangerous time for a woman in an abusive relationship is when she leaves. Calls to the crisis line ensure that a safety plan is devised to identify the best time to leave, and how to do that quickly and safely. The VWTH shelter provides up to 30 days of accommodation for those women and their children. They know they will be safe and secure. They can access the resources they need to start planning the next steps in their lives and be provided with everything they need, including counselling, childcare, food and clothing while they make those plans. It’s a literal lifeline.
Is it surprising that these services are so in demand in this day and age? It’s depressing certainly when you think about someone having their life controlled; feeling threatened; being hurt and feeling afraid. The abuse being reported since the start of the pandemic is also more violent. It’s a symptom and the fallout from the stresses that have built in the past two years. Whether you’ve needed their services or not, it is essential that there are safe spaces for women and children. I was somewhat surprised that such essential services are provided by a not-for-profit. It is only thanks to grants and donations that they are able to house and support so many women and their children each year.
If you would like to support the work of the Victoria Women’s Transition House Society please visit their website at www.transitionhouse.net/. Find out more about gender-based violence: https://canadianwomen.org/the-facts/gender-based-violence/.
