Alberta s Second Stage Shelters:

Transcription

1 Alberta s Second Stage Shelters: Transitioning from Domestic Violence to Stability Carolyn Goard, Alberta Council of Women s Shelters Charlene Rowein, Lloydminster Interval Home Society Rural Homelessness is Real: What Can We Do About It? May 26/ 27, 2015 Leduc, Alberta

2 Alberta Council of Women s Shelters Supports member organizations by providing training, tools and networking opportunities to share promising practices. Conducts action-based research to investigate primary prevention and intervention techniques. Generates public conversations about recognizing the signs of domestic violence, a victims rights and available programming in the community for families impacted by violence.

3 Lloydminster Interval Home Society CELEBRATING 35 YEARS OF LEADING THE WAY TO END FAMILY VIOLENCE AND HOMELESSNESS

4 Our Purpose, Vision, Philosophy & Values Purpose To provide safety, support, and education to families and communities regarding the issue of family violence Vision To passionately work towards eradicating family violence Philosophy & Values We believe in empowering individuals and families towards an abuse free lifestyle by living our values and beliefs. Our core values include: Integrity Honesty Equality Respect

5 Who is the Lloydminster Interval Home? Emergency Shelter 21 bed facility supporting women and children on a short term basis Second Stage Shelter 5 Unit apartment building for longer term residential support (up to one year) Public Education Group presentations regarding violence prevention and creating and maintaining healthy relationships Community Programming for children, youth, women and men; focused on building capacity in individuals for healthy relationships and immunity to violence Family Violence Outreach Women s and Men s Program provide one on one, need specific support For the Interval Store receive community donations: clothing, personal items and household goods which are given to clients of LIH and other people in need, for free. Any items that are not given to people in need or re-circulated to other partners are sold back to the community. All proceeds fund operations of LIH, particularly Second Stage.

6 What are Second Stage Shelters Second stage shelters provide safe, longer term (6 months to one year) apartment style supportive housing that are part of the spectrum of domestic violence and housing services Specialized domestic violence services ensure safety

7 The Second-Stage Shelter Project August 2013 September 2016 Goals 1. Establish a process for collective outcome measurement in Alberta second-stage shelters 2. Use date to improve shelter services 3. Support shelter efforts to secure core funding

8 Phase I: Completed November 2014 (funded by the Canadian Women s Foundation) Phase I: Outcomes: Literature review Logic model development Data gathering & analysis Final report & recommendations Phase II: Underway Two Phases: August 2013-September 2016 Implementation of goal attainment & other outcome measurement tools Development of an acuity scale

9 Phase I Outcomes Literature Review: Need for Second Stage Supportive Housing Women now make up around one-quarter of the homeless population (Tutty, et al., 2009). Domestic violence is one of the main causes of homelessness - 63 % of homeless women have been victims of domestic violence as adults (Brown and Basek, 1997) Lack of housing options or appropriate housing options for women with domestic violence history

10 Phase I Outcomes Literature Review: High Risk (Paraphrased) Question Emergency Second stage 1. Physical violence increased? 66% 85% 2. Does he own a gun? 20% 16% 6. Does he threaten to kill you? 45% 73% 13. Control your daily activities? 78% 94% 15. Were you beaten while pregnant? 37% 60% 17. Threaten to harm your children? 18% 65% 18. Do you believe he is capable of killing you? 59% 88% Cairns K.& Hoffart, I Keeping Women Safe: Assessing the Danger A report prepared for the Alberta Council of Women s Shelters.

11 Phase I Outcomes Literature Review: History of Trauma

12 Phase I Outcomes Literature Review: Mothering Exposure to IPV has a traumatic impact on children, especially the very young who are more vulnerable given the rapid brain development that occurs at this stage of life Impacts of trauma on brain development in the first five years have a lifelong physical, cognitive, social and emotional impact (Hoffart, 2012) Mothers stress related to parenting is higher for women in second stage shelters compared to those in emergency shelters Hoffart, I ACWS Children s Project.

13 Phase I Outcomes Literature Review: Immigrant & Refugee Women A third or more of the urban VAW population is immigrant or refugee. They face multiple challenges, including poverty, language, acculturation, exploitation, isolation and lack of informal supports, sexism and racism, custody and legal issues A single immigrant woman who struggles with English has not been able to locate employment and is not eligible for public assistance. She is able to find housing, but does not have the financial ability to move into her own apartment. Public funding is difficult for single women who are not eligible for assistance, and do not have the skills to obtain employment that will provide enough wages for rent. Excerpt from 4 th Quarter Women s Shelter Report, Alberta Human Services

14 Phase I Outcomes Literature Review: Violence, Poverty & Housing Increasingly it is becoming clear that a lack of affordable and safe housing and poverty have significant impacts on women s decision [to leave] an abusive partner. Housing has been identified as a significant concern, one that not uncommonly can force a return to an abusive relationship (Tutty, 2006). ACWS exit survey data from states that 57% of women who stayed in emergency shelter in the past returned to the same relationship, citing the following reasons for return: lack of affordable housing 42% lack of money 45% fear 38% Access to affordable housing is particularly problematic in rural communities and small towns

15 What Would Our Community s Look Like? Imagine, if you would A Community where children are exposed to violence and abuse in their homes A Community where families experience violence and abuse in their everyday lives A Community where women are fearful of not having a safe place for themselves or their children to go to when needed This is our community.

16 What Would Our Community s Look Like? What if there was no emergency shelters? What if there was no second stage shelters? Where would people go for safety? Where would people go to find safe and affordable housing? What if there were no services to support families to live free of violence? Would some women die? Would children?

17 What Housing options are available in Lloydminster? Housing Authorities: Low Income Housing AB and SK Metis Housing AB and SK Carlton Housing property owned by local Native Band Barriers: Currently there is little to no movement for openings Long waiting lists 6 months to two years Priority list vary between each authority Rental Properties Apartments Private Houses Private Basement Suites Room and Board Barriers: Average price on 2 Bedroom: $ and up Limitations if a women doesn t have references, poor credit rating or needs a co-signer Limited financial support

18 Inputs Phase I Outcomes Second-Stage Logic Model Governance Resources: Financial, Human, Technical, Volunteer, Community Program Operation and Administration Facility Operation Activities Measured using services provided and referrals lists in Outcome Tracker and agency documentation to describe community programming Site Management Safety Programming Comprehensive Services to Women and Children Shelter roles/responsibilities Client Background Client Outcomes Women keep themselves and their children safe Shelter and individual safety and security provision Children are more knowledgeable about keeping themselves safe Women access needed resources Services to Support Long-Term Housing Stability Community Programming Services provided Services provided Shelter advocacy, awareness, networking and fundraising Client Demographics Abuse History Health Stability Factors History of Community Connections Indicators Indicators Indicators Indicators Indicators Women and children are safely housed Women identify and meet their individual goals Children and youth experience improvements in social and emotional development Increased community awareness and support Indicators Indicators Indicators Indicators Indicators Indicators Indicators measures measures measures measures measures measures measures

19 Phase I Outcomes Results of Data Analysis Type of Abuse Experienced

20 Phase I Outcomes Results of Data Analysis Danger Assessment Scores

21 Phase I Outcomes Results of Data Analysis Goal Completion

22 Phase I Outcomes Results of Data Analysis Housing at Discharge

23 Phase II: Goals Implement and evaluate: o Outcome measurement tools including goal attainment scaling (developed in Phase 1) Develop and implement an Acuity Scale Improve shelters data collection processes resulting in increased data fidelity in both individual shelters and ACWS data aggregation

24 Closing Comments: Why Second Stage Shelters in Rural areas? Domestic violence, is a real issue in our community, last year 800 women and children tried to access the Lloydminster Home Emergency Shelter. Request for service exceeds our ability to meet the need Turned away over 400 people from admittance to our emergency shelter due to capacity Most of these people were children! Biggest barrier to living a life free of violence lack of safe and affordable housing in our community Second stage shelters provide homeless supports to families experiencing domestic violence Second stage shelters may be the only option to keeping a family from returning to a dangerous situation Families can stay connected to their community, resources and supports Request for Second Stage shelter housing exceeds the availability of apartment units Need for longer-term spaces, outreach and education for families wanting live healthy, violence free lives

25 Closing Comments: Wagemakers Schiff, Turner. May 2014 Rural Alberta Homelessness Place second stage supportive housing within the spectrum of services for homeless women and fund appropriately Adapt tools to support placement decisions for women and children fleeing domestic violence Ensure that homeless databases protect survivors privacy