It’s ‘Prevention of Violence Against Women Week’ in B.C., and as communities look for ways to prevent these violent incidents occurring, Battered Women’s Support Services is helping women access safe housing.
Zahra Hashemi, coordinator of Synchronicity, is getting ready to welcome another woman to the Synchronicity 2nd stage transition house program.
“Usually, they’re coming from transition houses and shelters,” said Hashemi.
The program provides subsidized housing for women and their children as they leave unsafe homes and work toward stability.
“They’re very strong and resilient. Going into the unknown is not easy perhaps for everyone to step in, but having the courage to do so is very inspiring to me,” said Hashemi.
According to the province, nearly half of B.C. women over the age of 15 have experienced intimate partner violence. Many who struggle to find independent housing.
“Leaving an abusive relationship means becoming homeless for most women, frankly no housing means no escape,” said Angela Marie MacDougall, executive director of Battered Women Support Services.
The province received $4.3 million through the Canada–British Columbia bilateral agreement on gender‑based violence.
But MacDougall says more support is still needed.
“We’ve been disappointed in the amount of revenue frankly that has come from the federal government and what amount is actually going into services, that’s something we’ve been concerned about.”
She points to the urgency of the issue.
“B.C. has the second highest rate of femicide in Canada, which is disproportionate to the population, that tells us a lot right?”
But for families who do access stable housing, the impact can last a lifetime.
“it’s the biggest lesson to the children, that the mother is breaking the cycle of abuse and providing a healthy life,” said Hashemi.
The ministry stated in an email to CityNews that the province disbursed $4.3 million in funding from a Canada-B.C. bilateral agreement on gender-based violence through BC Housing’s Women’s Transition Housing & Supports Program (WTHSP) to non-profit providers.
Almost 90 non-profit providers benefit from these funds, which will help women’s transition housing providers maintain capacity, support survivors during critical incidents, and support survivors’ independence.