Women’s shelter purchases transitional home
Last year, My Friend’s House in Collingwood had to turn away 196 women and children according to executive director Samantha Jones.
“It’s very hard to say no,” she acknowledges, “but we have only 12 emergency crisis beds in our shelter and we received roughly 5,500 crisis calls last year.”
Since 1991, My Friend’s House has been providing support to women and children in the South Georgian Bay region fleeing domestic violence. Jones says the need is constantly growing. Each year, roughly 200 clients are helped through the emergency shelter program. Another 400 are served through outreach, transition and children’s programs. While emergency shelter is critical, often it’s only the first step in a long journey to rebuilding lives.
The lack of affordable housing is a huge challenge, explains Jones.
“Think about a woman who has gone down to a singular income,” she says. “She wants to stay in the community where she works, and where her children go to school, but it’s very difficult to find an affordable rental. Access to affordable childcare is another obstacle. There are many complexities that go against moms who are trying to rebuild their lives.”
A new transitional home is the first step in addressing the gap between emergency shelter and permanent housing. The not-for-profit has purchased a five-bedroom house in Collingwood and is scheduled to take possession next month. Following some minor renovations, it is expected it will be ready for occupancy by June.
“This should help free up space in the emergency shelter more quickly. We used to move women out of the shelter and into housing in two to three months, but right now, we’re averaging 10 months. This new transitional home will allow women who no longer need 24/7 crisis support to move forward while freeing up shelter space so more people can access immediate safety,” says Jones. “This is just one small stepping stone. We have increased supply by only five beds and the need is great. Our long-term plan is to continue to create more safe spaces.”
Once operational, the transitional home will support women and children with up to 12 months of housing, plus wraparound, outreach-based services focused on long-term housing stability.
A woman who benefited from the services of My Friend’s House is quoted in their annual report as saying, “For women like me, those escaping unsafe situations with nowhere to turn, it is truly a lifeline. The support they offer can change lives. It changed mine.”
Another client says, “I didn’t think I would ever feel worthy again. Staying at My Friends’s House showed me how many incredible women were going through similar struggles to me. We were able to help each other, connect with each other and grow into new people together.”
Of the nearly 5,500 calls to My Friend’s House’s crisis line last year, 18 per cent came from Clearview Township, 30 per cent from Collingwood, 21 per cent from Wasaga Beach, 16 per cent from Town of the Blue Mountains and 15 per cent from Meaford.
My Friend’s House receives some funding from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, but relies heavily on donations and grants for the bulk of it’s roughly $1.8 million annual operating budget. The next major fundraiser will be the annual Ultimate East Coast Kitchen Party in May. Tickets will go on sale March 10.
Donate at myfriendshouse.ca.
