The Hamilton Spectator

Femicide is growing faster than support for victims

Shelters essential for women, children fleeing abuse

CAROL COWAN-MORNEAU CAROL COWAN-MORNEAU IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MISSION SERVICES OF HAMILTON.

As Mission Services reflects on International Women’s Day, and celebrates the many achievements of women, we can’t help but wonder why supports for women are still lacking?

Femicide is on the rise in Ontario. And in Canada, a woman is killed by her current or former partner every six days. The most dangerous time for a woman in an abusive relationship is when she leaves, which is why gender-based violence supports are crucial during this period.

Violence against women (VAW) shelters are essential in helping women and children fleeing abuse. VAW shelters, like Mission Services’ Inasmuch House, provide women and their dependents with wraparound supports they need to heal and grow. In 2022, 209 women and children were sheltered at Inasmuch House, and 77 residents found housing.

“We as an organization are witness to the horrific tragedies and traumas that are inflicted upon women in our community. We are also witness to the tremendous strength, perseverance, resiliency, determination, and hope that these women have in continuing on with their lives, healing, and eventually thriving. Our residents are absolutely unbelievable, and I am amazed by them every single day,” says Erin Griver, Mission Services’ director of Inasmuch House and Women’s Services.

However, VAW shelters don’t have the capacity to help the increasing number of women experiencing abuse. From 2019 to 2021, Inasmuch House had to turn away 4,615 women because of lack of space. We’re just one VAW shelter, in one city. How many other women and children are in need with nowhere to turn across Canada? Without available shelter beds many women have no choice but to return to their abuser, or face homelessness.

Women can try to access family shelters, if they have children, or shelters for women but unfortunately, these beds are also severely lacking. The crises of women’s homelessness and violence against women continues to grow in Ontario while additional supports and funding remain unchanged.

Emma’s Place, Mission Services’ 15-bed women’s shelter, opened in 2021 to help with this crisis. At Emma’s, and Willow’s Place, our women’s community drop-in program, staff support many women who are currently in, or escaping, abusive situations.

“Many unhoused women have experienced the downward spiral of violence,” shared Jaclyn, assistant director of Outreach Programs for Women and Children. “They leave ‘stability’ with their partners to avoid further violence. We know our shelter is not permanent housing but we want to make it feel homelike, so the women can feel comfortable enough to drop their guards and allow us to support them. Maybe not every person is ready to be housed, but everyone deserves to be safe.”

Emma’s Place provided shelter to 226 individuals in its first year . But this is just the first step.

Those who are lucky enough to find shelter still face major barriers, like finding suitable housing amid affordability and availability crises. Not to mention obtaining gainful employment to provide for themselves and their family, and having suitable supports for their children.

Women who leave their abusers also face ongoing mental-health challenges because of the trauma they’ve endured. Unfortunately, mental-health supports are out of reach for too many Ontarians due to cost and lack of OHIP-covered services. Inadequate mental-health supports can negatively impact other areas of someone’s life, leading to health problems, addictions, and more.

Ontario needs more supports for women, especially those experiencing abuse. It has been over 10 years since the government increased the VAW shelter budget and now is the time for action. They need to invest in subsidized housing, increased capacity in women’s shelters, and mental health supports.

Most femicide deaths are predictable and preventable, but because of the lack of commitment to prevention by provincial and federal governments, they continue. We need to follow the recommendations from the inquests into these femicides and move toward an Ontario, and Canada, with proper supports for all women.

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2023-04-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-04-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

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