Transition House
Joyce introduced Kathy Willis, executive director at Transition House for 14 years. In that time it has grown into a muti-site, multi-service operation. She's a tireless advocate for those who need help and she's also taking a Masters in Human Resources at York.
Kathy said the goals of the House are to see a stop to all violence against women and children, to encourage community members to promote education and advocacy and to provide shelter. The beliefs they work from are that: violence is an equity issue - there is a clear link between poverty and the lack of a stable, equal environment and; there are men that suffer violence but that it is preponderantly women who suffer - 95% - so the mandate is to help women first.
They are now called Huronia Transition Homes. La Maison Rosewood is the first resort for french speakers in the county. Rosewood has had great support from Rotary from the start when members helped clean up the basement through to working on the shed last year.
All are welcome but care must be taken so don't be put off by bullet proof windows and the voice box at the door. Rosewood offers a 15 bed emergency shelter, a 24 hour crises line, counselling, transitional housing support, legal advocacy, public education and bilingual services. A program called Choices For Children tries to help those who have witnessed violence come to terms with it. Boys have to be encouraged not to regard it as normal, girls often internalize the effects and need help with low self esteem. They also try to restore the bond between the mother and child and show abuse is not the way.
10 years ago Athena's Sexual Assault Counselling and Advocacy service began. For those 16 years and older it offers Crises Counselling, Support Groups and Public Education.
Transition Houses dealt with 2,518 women and children last year, including 95 families. Funding is insufficient and there's a shortfall of $900.00 per family which is why they began the Adopt a Family program. 51% of Canadian Women experience 1 incident of violence. 360,000 children are exposed to acts of violence. There is an act of violence every minute.
Typically the House runs over capacity - closer to 18 - 22 and it is only funded for 15. But they never turn anyone away. Huronia co-operates with the 4 other autonomous homes but acts as lead on the programs. There is mental as well as physical abuse and Kathy says they are seeing a decrease in physical - because of awareness and of shelters - but an increase in mental which is more difficult to identify as there is no physical evidence. Long exposure to mental abuse affects self esteem and isolates the victim who sees no where to go - they suffer alone.
Society has shifted - the rule of thumb which legalized striking with something thinner than your thumb is no more, but, ironically, shelters are now saving men's lives. Where a woman driven to desperation might have finally killed her abuser, she can now flee. But that gives the man an opportunity to strike back and, often, kill. The first year apart is the most dangerous. 14 women were killed last year in Ontario.
On average it takes 2.3 separations before a woman has really left a relationship but House staff force no decisions. The woman has had no power before and can't just transfer her dependance - she has to take it on herself and make her own decisions even if it is not in her best interests. Often men promise to change but it is very difficult to do. When women arrive they often have no possessions so the House has some donated items on hand and they have a relationship with the Salvation Army and they try to link them to other agencies. When they leave they do have some things to take with them.
Drugs and alcohol are often used as excuses by the victimizer for his behaviour and sometimes an addicted woman will stay to be close to her supply. Addictions are a complicated piece of the problem and linked to other problems like poverty.
Steve said it is terrible that there is such a need but thank God someone like Kathy and her team are there for the victims.