New ‘second step’ housing in Laval gives victims of conjugal violence a place to rebuild

The Shield of Athena inaugurated a new transitional housing complex in Laval, designed to help women and their children fleeing violence get back on their feet.

For more than three decades, the non-profit organization Shield of Athena has been offering emergency services to victims of conjugal violence. On Sunday, it took things a step further by inaugurating a new transitional housing complex in Laval, designed to help those same women and children get back on their feet.

Since its founding in 1991, Shield of Athena has operated emergency shelters as a first line of support. The new “second step” housing complex is meant to provide a place for women and children to rebuild their lives.

“We have 24 people in our 17-unit resource, including 13 children at last count,” said executive director Melpa Kamateros. “So it’s a resource that’s really, really needed and we’re happy to deliver it.”

Kamateros says the board first began planning the project in 2010, developing the model with direct input from the mothers and children in their care. The goal, she says, is to give residents the time and stability “to provide them with a helping hand with more time so that they can get on their feet, they can find a job, they can deal with their children properly,” she said.

The research supports the approach. Lawyer and McGill professor Pearl Eliadis worked with the Quebec Homelessness Prevention Collaborative to study transitional housing models around the world, and the findings indicate it’s money well spent.

“Women are up to one third more likely to find permanent, stable housing if they’ve had access to a second step or transitional house first,” said Eliadis. “And secondly, they’re between two and seven times less likely to go back to their abuser if they have gone through transitional housing.”

Shield of Athena offers services in 17 languages, and its mandate has always extended to breaking the cycle of violence across generations.

“We can help the children understand that violence is not needed and education is needed, love is needed, fun is needed and a zest for life that does not have violence in it. It’s not necessary,” explained board president Chris-Ann Nakis. “And if these kids can understand that, then their children will not be affected by conjugal violence.”

SUPPORT NETWORK

Victims of domestic violence can contact SOS violence conjugale at 1-800-363-9010.

Other resources:

• Federation des Maisons d’Hebergement pour Femmes
• Shield of Athena
• Espace Sans Violence
• Regroupement des Maisons Pour Femmes Victimes de Violence Conjugale
• Centre de Solidarite Lesbienne