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Safe Places for Women and
Children
BC
Transition House 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 houses 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
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:
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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, Aboriginal and Women's 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, Aboriginal and Women's 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:
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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.
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Vancouver
Island/Coast Region
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CAMPBELL RIVER:
Campbell River & North Island Transition Society
Phone: (250) 287-7384, Fax: (250) 286-6252
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COURTENAY: Comox Valley
Transition Society
Phone: (250) 897-0511, Fax: (250) 897-0595
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DUNCAN: Cowichan Women
Against Violence Society
Phone: (250) 748-7000, Fax: (250) 748-8539
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NANAIMO: Haven: A
Society for Women and Children
Phone: (250) 741-0550, Fax: (250) 741-0540
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PORT ALBERNI: Port
Alberni Women's Resources Society
Phone: (250) 724-7111, Fax: (250) 724-7113
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POWELL RIVER: Powell
River & Region Transition House Society
Phone: (604) 485-6965, Fax: (604) 485-6168
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SALT SPRING ISLAND:
Gulf Island Women's Resource Network
Phone: (250) 537-0735 Fax: (250) 537-0752
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SOOKE: Sooke Transition
House Society
Phone: (250) 642-2591, Fax: (250) 642-2589
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UCLUELET: Westcoast
Transition House
Phone: (250) 726-2020, Fax: (250) 726-2353
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VICTORIA: Cridge Centre
for the Family
Phone: (250) 479-3963, Fax: (250) 479-3861
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VICTORIA: Victoria
Women's Transition House Society
Phone: (250) 380-7527, Fax: (250) 385-5129
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Lower Mainland/Southwest Region
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ABBOTSFORD: Women's
Resource Society of the Fraser Valley
Phone: (604) 820-8455, Fax: (604) 820-8495
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BURNABY: Marguerite
Dixon Transition Society
Phone: (604) 298-3454, Fax: (604) 298-2647
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CHILLIWACK: Ann Davis
Transition Society
Phone: (604) 792-2760, Fax: (604) 792-2875
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CHILLIWACK: Xolhemet
Society
Phone: (250) 824-0939, Fax: (604) 824-0937
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HOPE: Hope & Area
Transition Society
Phone: (604) 869-5191, Fax: (604) 869-5172
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LANGLEY (ALDERGROVE):
Ishtar Transition House Society
Phone: (604) 534-0708, Fax: (604) 534-1929
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LANGLEY (LANGLEY):
Ishtar Transition House Society
Phone: (604) 534-0708, Fax: (604) 534-1929
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MAPLE RIDGE: Cythera
Transition House Society
Phone: (604) 467-9939, Fax: (604) 467-5158
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MISSION: Women's
Resource Society of the Fraser Valley
Phone: (604) 820-8455, Fax: (604) 820-8495
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NEW WESTMINSTER: Women
in Need Gaining Strength (W.I.N.G.S.) Fellowship Ministries
Phone: (604) 521-1888, Fax: (604) 521-1879
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NEWTON (VIRGINIA SAM):
Options: Services to Communities Society
Phone: (604) 572-7411, Fax: (604) 572-0170
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NORTH VANCOUVER: North
Shore Crisis Services Society
Phone: (604) 987-1773, Fax: (604) 987-1623
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PORT COQUITLAM: Port
Coquitlam Area Women's Centre Society
Phone: (604) 420-2002, Fax: (604) 420-2021
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RICHMOND: Chimo Crisis
Services
Phone: (604) 279-7077, Fax: (604) 279-7075
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SECHELT: Sunshine Coast
Community Services Society
Phone: (604) 885-5128, Fax: (604) 885-9493
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SQUAMISH: Howe Sound
Women's Centre
Phone: (604) 892-5748, Fax: (604) 892-5749
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SURREY: Shimai
Transition House
Phone: (604) 581-9100, Toll-Free: 877-581-9100, Fax: (604) 581-9119
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SURREY (EVERGREEN):
Options: Services to Communities Society
Phone: (604) 572-7411, Fax: (604) 572-0170
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VANCOUVER: Bridge
Shelter for Women
Phone: (604) 684-3542, Fax: (604) 684-3989
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VANCOUVER: Helping
Spirit Lodge Society
Phone: (604) 872-6649, Fax: (604) 873-4402
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VANCOUVER: Salvation
Army, Governing Council of
Phone: (604) 872-0772, Fax: (604) 872-7775
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VANCOUVER: Vancouver
Community Mental Health Services
Phone: (604) 874-7626, Fax: (604) 874-7661
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VANCOUVER: Vancouver
Rape Relief Society
Phone: (604) 872-8212, Fax: (604) 876-8450
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WHITE ROCK: Durrant
Transition House
Phone: (604) 531-4430, Fax: (604) 531-9132
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Thompson/Okanagan Region
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KAMLOOPS: Kamloops
Community YMCA/YWCA
Phone: (250) 374-6162, Fax: (250) 374-1733
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KELOWNA: Central
Okanagan Emergency Shelter Society
Phone: (250) 763-1040, Fax: (250) 763-3695
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PENTICTON: South
Okanagan Women In Need Society
Phone: (250) 493-7233, Fax: (250) 493-3158
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REVELSTOKE: Revelstoke
Women's Shelter Society
Phone: (250) 837-4382, Fax: (250) 837-4353
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SALMON ARM: Shuswap
Area Family Emergency Society
Phone: (250) 832-9616, Fax: (250) 832-9516
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VERNON: Vernon Women's
Transition House Society
Phone: (250) 542-1122, Fax: (250) 549-3347
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Kootenay Region
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CRANBROOK: Canadian
Mental Health Association for the East Kootenay
Phone: (250) 426-4887, Fax: (250) 426-4808
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CRESTON: Kootenai
Community Centre Society Safe House
Phone: (250) 428-7744, Fax: (250) 428-7744, Email:
kccf@kootenay.com
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GRAND FORKS: Boundary
Women's Coalition
Phone: (250) 442-3131, Fax: (250) 442-3600
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NELSON: Nelson
Community Services Centre Society
Phone: (250) 352-3504, Fax: (250) 352-3750
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TRAIL: Trail Family &
Individual Resource Centre Society
Phone: (250) 364-1543, Fax: (250) 364-1480
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North Region
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BURNS LAKE: Lakes
District Safe Haven Home Society
Phone: (250) 692-7561, Fax: (250) 692-3064
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DAWSON CREEK: South
Peace Community Resources Society
Phone: (250) 782-9174, Fax: (250) 782-4167
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FORT NELSON: Healthy
Fort Nelson Society
Phone: (250) 774-2993, Fax: (250) 774-7407
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FORT ST. JOHN: North
Peace Community Resources Society
Phone: (250) 785-6021, Fax: (250) 785-4659
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KITIMAT: Tamitik Status
of Women Association
Phone: (250) 632-2020, Fax: (250) 632-5202
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MASSETT: Haida Gwaii
Society for Community Peace
Phone: (250) 626-4666, Fax: (250) 626-4662
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PRINCE GEORGE: Phoenix
Transition House Society
Phone: (250) 563-7315, Fax: (250) 563-2792
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PRINCE GEORGE: Prince
George & District Elizabeth Fry Society
Phone: (250) 563-1113, Fax: (250) 563-8765
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PRINCE RUPERT: North
Coast Transition Society
Phone: (250) 627-8588, Fax: (250) 627-8960
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QUESNEL: Amata
Transition House Society
Phone: (250) 992-7321, Fax: (250) 992-7329
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SMITHERS: Northern
Society for Domestic Peace
Phone: (250) 847-9000, Fax: (250) 847-8911
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TELEGRAPH CREEK: Three
Sisters Haven Society
Phone: (250) 235-3113, Fax: (250) 235-3115
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TERRACE: Ksan House
Society
Phone: (250) 635-6447, Fax: (250) 635-6844
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VANDERHOOF: Omineca
Safe Home System Society
Phone: (250) 567-9512, Fax: (250) 567-9523
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WATSON LAKE: Help &
Hope for Families Society
Phone: (403) 536-8233, Fax: (867) 536-770
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WILLIAMS LAKE: Cariboo
Friendship Society
Phone: (250) 398-5658, Fax: (250) 398-6115
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