Housing is the "Biggest Problem" Facing Victims of Domestic Violence

November is a time to raise awareness and focus on a major flaw within society. Violence Against Women and Gender Based Violence, issues that have been labelled as a “shadow pandemic”, are brought to the fore of conversation into order to seek solutions to a problem that has been exacerbated by the pandemic and a lack of affordable housing.

“Where are they going to go, physically?” is the question that Linda Bissonette, supervisor of Maison Interlude House’s (MIH) Outreach Services program ponders. “There’s a feeling of helplessness, for victims and the workers, who are overwhelmed as they feel like they aren’t doing enough but physically we don’t have enough housing.” 

Bissonette explained that although the number of ‘crisis calls’ MIH have reduced in the last 12 months, it isn’t a sign that the situation is getting better - quite the contrary. “When COVID first hit and we had stay at home orders, we were making women stay at home with their abusers,” she explained. “It had an awful effect on the women and their children. The violence became more serious and it became more complex - so we have more complicated cases now because of that. [The number of calls] hasn’t gone up because women can’t reach out as they are in the house with the abuser. It has become very difficult for women to reach out.”

MIH was established in 1983 and has supported women victims of domestic violence and their children who are at the core of their development efforts as they provide shelter for 80 women and Children and support a further 400 women and 100 children with 250 supported through the Transitional and Housing Support Program. 

However, the affordable housing crisis, which is causing havoc throughout the province is having a deeper impact on the victims of domestic and gender based violence as all the shelters in the area are full and Bisonette explains that “even if they want to leave” they have nowhere to go. 

“Right now, the biggest problem we are seeing [is housing],” Bissonette said. “There is a 6 year wait for affordable housing and [while we wait] the damage that happens with these women unable to leave these abusive relationships, the long term effects, and on the children who are being raised in violent homes and they can’t get out. 

“What does our future look like with these kids?”