Women s Place of South Niagara Inc Annual Report

Transcription

1 Women s Place of South Niagara Inc Annual Report Forging Forward We envision a community where women and their children live free from violence and abuse

2 Our Mission The mission of Women s Place of South Niagara Inc. is to end abuse and violence by empowering women and their children through the provision of safe shelter, counselling, education and community partnerships. Our Vision Women s Place of South Niagara Inc. envisions a community where women and their children live free from abuse and violence.

3 FORGING FORWARD PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR S MESSAGES PRESIDENT S MESSAGE Another fiscal year has passed and Women s Place of South Niagara (WPSN) has continued to serve the needs of the community while facing many challenges; the increased demands for our program and services; higher occupancy in our shelters and requests for outreach services which places higher demands on our staff, as well as the negative impact of a depressed economy. WPSN employees have spent this past year not only helping save the lives of many women and their children, but actively participated in Visioning Days. These days provided the Board and Staff with an opportunity to pause and reflect, build relationships and shared meaning that assured alignment with our mission and vision. In turn, it has allowed us to develop a new and meaningful 5 year Strategic Plan that together we can be proud to implement. Forging Forward WPSN will be shaped by six strategic directions which are as follows: 1. Empowering Women & Children Escaping Violence and Abuse 2. Enhance Quality of Work Life 3. Enhancement Through Partnerships and Collaboration 4. Stabilize and Diversify Funding 5. Community Engagement and Increased Visibility 6. Leadership and Governance When amalgamated, they create a culture that is philanthropic, service oriented and rooted in community engagement. The need for WPSN services has not only increased, but we are finding that the needs of the women and children that come to shelter are much more complex. As a result of the trauma women and their children have experienced, staff have seen an increase in addiction and mental wellness, cultural diversity and challenges with shared living space. The lack of affordable housing in Niagara and the cuts to the Community Start-Up Maintenance and Benefits Program (CSUMB) present challenges to supporting women successfully re-establish and re-build their lives. Women s Place is now in the 5 th year of the government s austerity plan and operating budget funding freeze. As a Board of Directors part of our governance role and responsibility is to ensure barriers, such as financial barriers are removed to enable WPSN staff and volunteers to continue their work and increase their capacity to meet the increased needs of the women and children who come to WPSN for support. In the Niagara Region we have seen much of our manufacturing industry leave or fold which in turn has meant we have lost corporate and individual donors. We see partner agencies that assist our women and children in different capacities also suffer because of financial hardship. In this difficult economic climate Women s Place continues to advocate for resources from the different levels of government, strengthening our working relationships with existing generous funders, engaging new funders and new sources of revenues to ensure we can maintain our vital programs and services. Volunteers continue to be the backbone of WPSN. We would be lost without them and clearly could not provide the services our communities need without the tireless support of our volunteers. Forging Forward, we will apply the maxim that it takes a village. With and through our Staff, Volunteers and Board of Directors, along with our generous funders and donors working together to help us carry out our mission, it is our hope that one day we will be able to stand here and say we have achieved our vision! Respectfully submitted, Assunta Piccini President

4 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR S MESSAGE What is challenging now, is to see how at a time when women s empowerment, human rights and gender equality have been endorsed by the international community, we see the current economic climate in Ontario being utilized to endorse the provincial governments austerity measures resulting in resources required to address these agendas being frozen or withdrawn. This is happening at a time when the demand for our services and our shelters occupancy has never been higher. What strategies can then be promoted for women s empowerment and poverty alleviation in today s market crisis, with increasing systemic barriers and the globalizing market all disrupting the provision of services for women and their children. WHY are our services minimized and not recognized for what they truly are, which is Homicide Prevention! Nonetheless, Women s Place of South Niagara has, will and must continue to FORGE FORWARD. Even in the most troubled circumstances, we work with people to see beyond obstacles, to tap the richness of our communities, and to build better lives. That reaching out, that optimism and determination has guided our work for more than 30 years. The root word of the word EDUCATE means not to train, or teach, or even learn but to lead or draw out. WPSN is driven to build a society that draws out humankind s fullest potential. The problems we tackle are urgent, sometimes intractable and may not be solved in our lifetimes. Still, as we assess this year, we take special pride in the progress and advances our work has created in the fact that together we have made a difference in the lives of the thousands of women who called our crisis lines and the hundreds of women and their children who resided in our shelters or received support services through our outreach programs. Over the course of the last year, our agency continued to be an active member in the Coalition to End Violence Against Women (CEVAW). The System Matters which is the 2 nd Niagara Domestic Violence Report Card and Supplementary Report Card were published and launched in the community. Approximately 70% of the women who stay in our two shelters, either come into shelter on Ontario Works (OW) or Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) or leave the shelter on OW. To advocate on the issue of poverty, we became an active member of the Niagara Poverty Reduction Network and participated in the launch of the Wipe Out Poverty in Niagara Campaign. In addition, we secured a one year funding grant from the Niagara Prosperity Initiative Program to facilitate teen healthy relationship and community domestic violence education in the impoverished neighbourhoods of Niagara Falls. It is our hope that awareness will lead to prevention and earlier interventions. My respect and gratitude for the passion, creativity and capability of our Management Team and front-line employees has never been stronger. I see daily the unique spirit of our staff, who, in reaching out to conquer greater challenges, insist that we can do more and better. Finally, I am thankful for the support of our Board of Directors, our Volunteers, and our Donors. Collectively you empower WPSN to be a service provider, as well as, a community of pioneers. While our frontiers may change with each passing decade, we aspire to lasting impact and excellence. Despite all the hurdles it will be necessary to go over, under or around them because FORGING FORWARD is not an option; we must be tenacious not only for the women and their children who seek refuge and support today, tomorrow and in the year ahead, but for the future generations of women yet to come. Respectfully submitted, Ruthann Brown Executive Director

5 Programs and Services Serenity Place & Nova House Women s Place of South Niagara has been busy this past year providing safe shelter and outreach services for 539 woman and 398 children. Our two shelters have a total of 30 beds and there were many times throughout this year that we were at, or over our capacity. Women s Place of South Niagara has also experienced an increased demand for our outreach services which include our Child and Youth, Family Court Support Worker and Transitional Housing Support Programs. Our statistics show that the number of women and children accessing all of our shelter programs demonstrates an increased need within our community for Domestic Violence services. Our staff at Women s Place of South Niagara are disheartened by the fact that domestic violence is still so prevalent; however we are pleased that we had the ability to assist many families in transitioning to a safe home free from domestic abuse. We are honoured that we have met so many women who showed strength and courage in such difficult times. These women and their stories motivate all of the staff at Women s Place to continually provide support and enhance our services. In addition to the support we provide to address women's need to escape domestic violence, because of the trauma they have undergone, women have also relied on us for support in other areas they struggle with such as substance use and mental wellness. In order to meet the diverse needs of our clients we are working towards enhancing our services by implementing programming that is client focused and trauma informed. Our statistics show that the number of women and children accessing all of our shelter programs demonstrates an increased need within our community for Domestic Violence services. Women s Place of South Niagara is working to create community partnerships to better serve the women who utilize our services. This is reflected in Women s Place of South Niagara taking the lead role in the Niagara Chapter of the Ontario Woman Abuse Screening Project which unites organizations from the three sectors of addictions, mental health and domestic violence. This committee is working toward implementing trauma informed services across all sectors and raising awareness of the impacts of domestic violence on addictions and mental health. Continued on next page.

6 Residential & Outreach Statistics Nova House Niagara Falls Serenity Place Welland Agency Total Women Serviced in Shelter Children Serviced in Shelter Women Serviced with Office Visit Counselling Crisis Calls 1, ,267 Family Court Support Worker Program Clients Transitional Support Clients Served Women and Children Referred Elsewhere Due to Lack of Space 25 women 23 children 2 women 1 child 27 women 24 children I had so many injuries and black eyes that I called in sick to work constantly. - Client, Nova House Continued from previous page Looking ahead we are aiming to create new and improve existing collaborative partnerships with several community agencies that will assist us in improving our ability to provide a holistic service. We are also focused on training and professional development for our front-line advocates so they have the ability to meet the evolving needs of our clients. Women s Place of South Niagara is proud to have a dedicated team that is working hard towards fulfilling our mission statement of ending abuse and violence by empowering women and their children through the provision of safe shelter, counselling, education and community partnerships.

7 Financial Statement Revenue & Expenses REVENUE Ministry of Community and Social Services - Annualized Funding 1,360,712 1,360,712 Ministry of Community and Social Services - One-time Funding 53,232 42,021 CEVAW ** 30,182 31,180 MAG Family Court Support Worker 32,500 16,250 Niagara Prosperity Initiative 19,269 Donations and Fundraising 342, ,988 Federal Government (Summer Student) 5,956 4,890 Regional and Municipal Funding 33,800 60,906 United Way Funding 51,239 51,239 Special Projects 49,858 48,784 Investment and Misc. Income 30,555 20,665 2,009,497 1,970,635 EXPENSES Emergency Shelter 1,370,469 1,339,866 Legal & Housing Support Services 205, ,989 Fundraising & Public Education Expenses 133, ,669 CEVAW ** 30,182 31,180 Administration & Operations 268, ,577 2,007,940 1,968,281 Surplus (Allocated to Stabilization Fund) 1,557 2,354 ** WPSN is the transfer payment agency for the Coalition To End Violence Against Women (CEVAW) Women s Place of South Niagara Inc. is generously funded by

8 Our donors support allows us to Forge Forward Development & Community Engagement DEVELOPMENT A HUGE thank you to our donors! Whether your support is financial, in kind support by a donation of toiletries, a new toy at the holidays, or volunteering, we simply could not do it without you! In 2012/13 our grants, special events and donations accounted for just over 30% of our total operating expenses. This support has been instrumental this year and has allowed us to maintain the level of programming and services that our clients need and deserve. Cut it Out 2012 It amazes us each year how generous our community can be. In 2012, we had 11 salons throughout South Niagara, open their doors to and dedicate all proceeds from a full-day of services to Women s Place of South Niagara. This event came about as part of a larger movement to educate salon professionals of the warning signs of abuse and how to respond, respect and refer the women to agencies like ours for assistance. 35 th Annual Book Riot With the purchase and development of the Niagara Falls Optimist Club, the Nova House Book Riot s days at the Optimist Club have come to an end. In one of our highest grossing years, the 35th Annual Book Riot raised over $42,000 to support the programs and services at our shelter. 11 th Annual Strike Out Violence Bowling Tournament The tournament was attended by 255 participants who enjoyed an afternoon of bowling and a dinner at Club Italia. The evening featured fabulous prizes in the silent auction, a draw, and raffle. The continued support of the Venue Sponsor Fallsview Casino Resort & Casino Niagara, who was joined by a new Major Sponsor, Meridian Credit Union, propelled the event to new heights, generating $28,000 for our shelters thank you to everyone who supported the bowlers! Special thanks to the Niagara Regional Police Service for co-hosting this tournament and bringing awareness to the issue of domestic violence. Charity of Choice Events Niagara Falls Women s Half Marathon Women s Place is proud to be the charitable recipient of pledges raised by individuals participating in the Niagara Falls Women s Half Marathon. In it s inaugural year, this event brought in $7,000 all to support the programs and services at our two shelters. To be part of this event in 2014, visit our website or call our office!

9 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Women s Place received funding through the Niagara Prosperity Initiative to support our community engagement efforts. Green Shield Canada provided funding to offset the costs of developing and printing educational materials. This allowed us to reach deeper into our communities to spread awareness about our services, and the issues of dating and domestic violence. It has also allowed us to build strong partnerships with other social services providers such as Night Light, Hannah House, Niagara Regional Housing, the Niagara Falls Library, and the Distress Centre. Through the development of our new education program, Stop the Cycle, which helps students in grades 7-12 recognize the characteristics of abusive and healthy relationships, we have also had the opportunity to build stronger connections with the schools in our service area. Teachers and principals have been extremely receptive to this new program, and we look forward to building on the success of this initiative during the school year. Special thanks to Green Shield Canada and the Niagara Prosperity Initiative for their financial support Today I learned that abuse could happen to anyone at anytime and that there is procedures [sic] to help you get out of an abusive relationship. I learned that there is a special house for women and there [sic] children who get abused to get out of the abuse house and to be safe. Middle school student. Father Hennepin Catholic Elementary School Walk Against Male Violence - Notre Dame & Lakeshore Catholic High Schools This year, Notre Dame College School hosted the 22 rd Annual Walk Against Male Violence. Joined by students from Lakeshore Catholic High School and Confederation Secondary School, students wove their way through the streets of Welland with banners to raise awareness of domestic violence, while also raising funds to help address this important issue. Coeurs en Choeur - Ecole Secondaire Catholique Jean-Vanier Since 2007, Jean Vanier has encouraged their students and their students families, to get involved and be advocates for our shelters and women and children in our community who are experiencing abuse. In that short amount of time, this local school has raised over $50,000 to support Women s Place of South Niagara.

10 Our Volunteers empower us to Forge Forward Volunteer Program Volunteers are at the heart of every fundraising event we host, key to engaging the community about the importance of Women s Place and abuse awareness, and crucial in providing in-shelter services that make life better for the women and children who access our shelters. In , volunteers provided direction and expertise through their service on our board of directors, and by taking part in our four fundraising committees. Volunteers provided child care, sorted donations, and provided support in our two shelters. They donated thousands of hours to support our signature fundraisers: Cut it Out, Strike Out Violence Bowling Tournament, and Nova House Book Riot. They also represented Women s Place at a number of Charity of Choice events hosted by community organizations, including the Inaugural Niagara Falls Women s Half Marathon. We could not do the work we do without the support of our volunteers and are very grateful for their amazing commitment to Women s Place. Thank you! Volunteer Program Fast Facts: Women s Place has 276 active volunteers. It took approximately 850 hours to pre-sort all the books for the Book Riot! There were over 2,000 volunteer hours donated at this years Book Riot. Over 100,000 books are donated each year Volunteers at the Nova House Book Riot and the Niagara Falls Women s Half Marathon. In total, our volunteers donated 2,854 hours to these two events! The Ridgeway production of the Vagina Monologues was a enormous success. Two performances raised $6,544. Deanna Spencer, owner of Revival Salon in Ridgeway and participant in our Cut it Out event has been a tremendous advocate for Women s Place in the Ridgeway and Fort Erie communities.

11 OUR VALUE STATEMENTS RESPECT We treat every person with respect and recognize each person s unique abilities and choices DIGNITY We affirm that every person has the fundamental human right to be safe and free from violence and abuse EXCELLENCE We promote leadership in achieving quality and continually pursue new ideas and opportunities COLLABORATION We pursue and build effective partnerships and relationships with members of our community INTEGRITY We ensure effective stewardship of our resources through transparency and accountability

12 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Assunta Piccini President Leigh Whyte Vice President Melissa Stack Treasurer Beverly Lenchyshyn Secretary Gary Berman Director Fran Gregotski Director Words are failing me. I m glad that there is a place like this for people who need a safe place to go. My children and I are forever grateful. - Client, Nova House You should know that you touched hearts and I will be forever grateful. - Client, Serenity Place Stephanie Thomson Director Chantal Visi Director 24 hour crisis lines: Nova House (Niagara Falls, Greater Fort Erie and surrounding areas) Serenity Place (Welland, Port Colborne, Wainfleet, Pelham and surrounding areas)