Safe Places for Women and Children

BC Transition House Programs and Counselling Programs

The violence started when I was pregnant. I felt alone, trapped, frightened. Where could I go? My girlfriend told me about a transition house outside of town. The counsellors there understood how hard it is. Now I have a new life, and most of all, my children and I are safe. Angela, Age 25

For too many women and children, violence is part of everyday life. That's why the government of British Columbia is working with communities to stop the cycle of violence and create a safe future for B.C. women.

A Place to Stay

It's hard to leave when you don't know where to go. Women have a right to be safe in their own homes - but sometimes the only safe place is somewhere else.

Transition houses, safe homes and second-stage house are meant to be safe places. Their addresses are not widely publicized to try to keep them safer. When you've finished your stay at a transition house, you are given priority for affordable housing where it is available.

• Transition houses provide temporary housing in a safe, secure environment for women and their children leaving abusive relationships. Women and their children usually stay in a transition house for less than a month.
• Safe homes provide temporary accommodation in communities where transition houses do not exist. The safe home may be a rental apartment, private home or hotel unit.
• Second-stage houses help women who have left abusive relationships make long-term plans for independent living. Women and their children usually stay in a second-stage house for 9-12 months.

A Transition House provides:

• a safe place for you and your children
• food and other necessities
• temporary shelter
• support in getting financial, medical or legal help
• emotional help and counselling

B.C. Communities with Transition Houses or Safe Homes:

Help When You Need It

Living with violence leaves many emotional bruises and scars. Counselling can help with the healing process. Counsellors can work with you to bring your experiences into the open and help explore your options without judging or criticizing you.

In B.C. there are 79 services in 100 communities offering counselling for women who have experienced sexual abuse, violence in their relationship or childhood abuse. Some of these services are offered in transition houses; some in community-based sexual assault centres and women assault centres.

Counselling can also help children who come from violent homes. In 45 B.C. communities, there are support services for your children. They too need to begin healing, learn healthy ways to deal with anger and regain confidence in themselves and their family. Helping children is critical to stopping the cycle of violence.

Stopping the Violence

Help for women who have been beaten or abused is a critical part of the government plan to stop violence against women. But responding to violence after it happens is only part of what women and communities need.

The key to eliminating violence against women is stopping the violence before it starts.

We are working with communities to try to change attitudes and behaviours to help prevent violence in the first place.

Educational resources, publications and awareness campaigns help parents, teachers and public stop the cycle of violence in the home and in the community. But we need communities and individuals to take action too.

Services for All Women

Transition houses work hard to keep you and your children safe so that fear of more violence doesn't keep you from getting the help you need.

Other barriers can cut you off from services too:

• your language might not be understood
• your culture might not be understood
• you may face obstacles if you have a physical disability.

The Ministry of Community Services and service providers want to make sure all women can get the services they need. That's why we are working to remove barriers by renovating buildings, providing services in different languages and training people who work in transition houses to identify and eliminate anything that might make you feel unwelcome.

Women across B.C. worked hard to establish transition houses in their communities. With funding from the Ministry of Community Services, transition houses and safe homes offer housing for women leaving violent relationships. They are a safe place to go for you and for your children.

I didn't want my family to know. I never told anyone. Then one night he hit me so hard I ended up in emergency. A nurse gave me the number for a transition house. The next day, I went there on the city bus while my husband worked. I now know I didn't have to live that way and I feel a lot better about myself. Meena, Age 41

If you are in a violent relationship:

• Call a transition house. To find the nearest one, look in your phone book under emergency numbers or call the crisis line.
• Leave and take your children with you. It's hard to do. It's hard to figure out where to go that's safe. A transition house is one place. A friend or neighbor who you know will keep your whereabouts secret is another.
• Call the police. If you need help right away, the police are your best choice for a response. Use 911 or your community police number. If it's an emergency, say so right away. Ask them what they can do to protect you.
  
   

• Call 911 or the police if you need help right away!